The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) confirms that there is a conflict between the military and the police when it comes to who should have the lead in in the fight against terror in Norway.(Photo: Head of PST Benedicte Bjørnland)
Acording to Lasse Roen, union representative in the PST, there is great frustration among the members of the police officers association. ''If terrorism is a crime, it becomes wrong to supply more arms to the military under the guise of terror concept, versus ensuring that the police are able to do their job in this field.''
He claims that the military forces are trying to increase the number preparedness exercises in order to bolster their budgets. Roen states that combating terrorism is a task for the Police, not primarily a job for the military.
In PST there is a feeling that parts of the military is now trying to improve their situation in the terror preparedness field in order to get more resources. According to Roen, a new body is needed.
On Friday, the head of military special forces called for his soldiers to be prepared for shorter standby times and a more dominant role in assisting the police in combating terrorism. If necesarry, with special forces on alert in a number of camps around the country.
Roen points out that the Special Forces are on their way home from Afghanistan, and are in need for new relevant tasks . He is now asking the government to appoint an emergency response coordinator. ''I think the past week's events have shown that we need a new body''. This could be a national security adviser, located at the prime minister's office, which could play a coordinating role in relation to Norway's total resources in the security field, says Roen.
"The Prevention of terror is more important, and to discuss firepower is wrong'', claims the head of PST, Benedicte Bjørnland , who says prevention - which is a PST task - is far more important.
The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the case.
The Justice Department says to NRK that no police organisation have reported to them that there are any conflicts between the police and the military.
NRK/The Norway Post
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