The purpose of the Norwegian Bureau is to investigate and decide whether there are grounds for prosecution in cases where employees serving with the police or prosecuting authorities are alleged to have committed criminal acts in the service.
When an alleged incident of misconduct is reported, it means that the person(s) reporting the incident believes that a criminal act has been committed that ought to be prosecuted.
Persons who believe they have been subjected to treatment by a member of the police or prosecuting authorities that is not criminal in nature, but censurable by disciplinary action, may direct their complaint to the Chief Police Officer in the Police District concerned. Such complaints shall be processed according to a general instruction for dealing with complaints of incidents of a censurable nature committed by persons serving with the police.
Read more about the complaint procedure on www.politi.no.
If the Norwegian Bureau receives a complaint about an incident that is censurable, but not criminal, the case will normally be dismissed and referred to processing by the police. A separate resolution will be reached concerning dismissal of the case.
Should there be any doubt as to the seriousness of a complaint, i.e. whether it refers to an alleged criminal act as opposed to a disciplinary matter, the Norwegian Bureau shall contact the complainant for further information about the incident in question.