International policing partnership

Policing experts from Norway and Newcastle have spent time working together as part of a new partnership between the Norwegian Police University College and Northumbria University.

Academics and senior masters students from Oslo travelled to the North East to spend time with their counterparts from Northumbria’s Centre for Crime and Policing, as well as with officers from Northumbria Police.

The aim of the visit was to learn more about how police research, teaching, and practice is conducted in both countries, with plans for a return trip to Norway by the Northumbria contingent in the future.

The exchange was organised by Professor of Police Science Gavin Oxburgh, Head of Northumbria’s Department of Social Sciences and a visiting Professor of Psychology at the Norwegian Police University College.

Speaking about the visit he said: “There are many similarities between the two institutions in terms of the training and education we provide, but there is also much we can learn from each other, which is why we were keen to establish this partnership.

“The confidence the Norwegian public have in their police force is very strong, so we are very interested in learning what it is they do differently to us and hopefully applying that to our research and training in future.

“Experiential learning is a big part of our student experience at Northumbria and we hope this partnership will enhance our students’ learning by giving them the chance to work alongside police officers and academics from another country.”

The Norwegian Police University College is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Norwegian Police Directorate and is responsible for training Norway’s entire police force.

It offers three-year bachelor’s, postgraduate studies, and four-year master’s degree programmes, with its academics and students also carrying out research in areas such as law, police science, criminology, psychology and sociology.

Speaking about the visit to Northumbria, Norwegian Assistant Chief of Police Trond Myklebust PhD said: “Northumbria University is the leading institution in the UK bringing together law enforcement practitioners and academics and improving the goals and objectives in enhancing law enforcement education programmes and research. This is all underpinned by a robust evidence-base.

“We are looking forward to formalising and continuing our collaboration with the university and the different teams.”

During their visit the Norwegian group spent time at Northumbria’s Centre for Crime and Policing, where academics carry out world-leading research into the challenges associated with 21st century crime and policing.

They also spent time learning about the Police Educational Qualifications Framework plus a visit and training exercises at Northumbria Police’s Training and Communications Centre in Ponteland.

Superintendent Sharon Chatterton, of Northumbria Police, said: “It was fantastic for our staff to meet those who travelled over from Oslo as part of this exciting new partnership and it was great to give them an insight into our training and working policing practices here in the UK.

“We are proud of our excellent working relationship with Northumbria University and hope their new partnership with the Norwegian Police University College continues to go from strength to strength.”