Norway

Norway is involved in a project led by C-REX - Center for Research on Extremism, called HATECYCLE: The life cycle of hate crimes – Patterns, responses and consequences. The project HATECYCLE will investigate the life cycle of hate crimes in Norway to improve understanding of its patterns, the societal responses to hate crime and their consequences, using these insights to guide more targeted prevention and intervention. More about the project in this link. The project period is from 2023 to 2026.

In 2023, dedicated hate crime contact points in all police districts were established, each with its own local network. In-person training was provided to all districts, traveling across the country to ensure a unified approach to hate crime investigations. In 2024, the focus was on following up with the districts, gathering feedback on additional training needs and areas for improvement.

Notable case:

In 2024, a notable hate crime case occurred in the South-West Police District, where a man with a disability was punched in the face. As a result, he fell and hit his head on the ground. He sustained multiple fractures in his face, skull, and bleeding in the brain. He underwent surgery at the hospital and was given a medical disability estimated at 75 to 100 per cent. After the incident, he became completely dependent on care. The case was registered as Serious Bodily Injury. The perpetrator was under 18 years old and sentenced to juvenile punishment for a duration of three years. The investigation succeeded in highlighting a hate motive and focused on this from the outset. The case received significant media attention and was covered by several online newspapers.