New rules for police recruits, north of country covered in snow, US-made alcohol sales down and more news from Norway this Monday.
Police to accept recruits with minor drugs records
Norway’s police training school Politihøgskolen will admit persons with minor convictions related to personal use of narcotics from 2026.
The change in practice means applicants with offences of this type on their records will be admitted to the school on the same terms as others, media Khrono writes.
Previously, any sort of offence related to possession of drugs of any type would have disqualified an applicant from being accepted by the police.
“Young people should be given the chance to put the past behind them,” Politihøgskolen director Hans Vik told the media.
Snow all over north of country
Northern county Troms and much of neighbouring Nordland are under a layer of snow this morning. The E6 motorway is experiencing disruption as a result of the conditions, broadcaster NRK reports.
“There are winter conditions across most of Troms,” Monika Stane, traffic operator at the Northern Traffic Control Centre (Vegtrafikksentralen Nord), told NRK.
“We urge drivers to use appropriate tyres, take it easy on the road, and perhaps allow a little extra travel time,” she said.
Any motorists who have not yet switched to winter tyres should “definitely” do this, she added.
READ ALSO: When should you switch to winter tyres in Norway?
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Sales of US-produced wine and spirits down in Norway
Norwegians have lost some of their appetite for wine and spirits produced in the United States, according to new figures from state monopoly Vinmonopolet reported by media Klassekampen.
Sales have dropped by 15 percent so far this year, while overall alcohol sales have declined by 2.5 percent.
Sweden’s equivalent to Vinmonopolet, Systembolaget, has attributed a comparable 17 percent decline in sales of American alcohol products in Sweden to a grassroots boycott.
Brief runway closure at Oslo Airport due to drone
Oslo Airport’s eastern runway was closed just after 5pm on Saturday after police were alerted to a drone in the vicinity, NRK reported.
“The drone operator intended to film a drag race at Gardermoen Motor Park,” police officer Ronny Hellerud Samuelsen stated in a daily police update.
The incident did not cause any flight disruption, police confirmed.
The drone, which was operated by a man in his thirties, was confiscated by police. He refused to answer questions at the scene, so will be called in for questioning later, police said.
Unauthorised use of drones can be punished by fines of up to 20,000 kroner and confiscation of the drone, Samuelsen stated.