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Norway to launch first animal police project

Xinhua, April 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Norway said on Tuesday that it will launch initiatives to protect animal welfare, including strengthening the role of police in criminal cases of animal abuse.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, is making animal welfare a priority objective and the two ministries have chaired a joint commission to prepare measures, the Norwegian government said in a press release.

The most important initiative is the animal police pilot project, which will be assigned to South Troendelag Police Department, allowing a full judiciary process against those who commit crimes against animals.

"This may also prevent violence and abuse against humans. Animal cruelty is associated with domestic and intimate partner violence, hurting the innocent," Minister of Agriculture and Food Sylvi Listhaug was quoted as saying.

The purpose of the animal police project, commencing Sept. 1 this year, is to ensure that perpetrators of serious crime against animals must face prosecution and sanctions, the press release said.

According to digital news publisher The Local's Norwegian edition, the initiative will be tested out for three years, and police in the western county of South Troendelag will appoint three people -- an investigator, a legal expert and a coordinator -- to fight animal abuse.

Under Norwegian law, acts of animal abuse carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Similar animal rights police units operate in the Netherlands and in Sweden.

In 2014, 38 cases of animal abuse were reported to police in Norway, The Local said, quoted reports of public broadcaster NRK. Endit