Recent police figures show Oslo has more cases of rape per capita than the other Scandinavian capitals, despite authorities’ efforts to tackle the problem in July. The number of reported rapes has also increased by 84 percent since 2001.

Herdis R. Magerøy, general manager of DIXI Resource Centre for rape victims, finds the results “shocking”.

“I am appalled at the numbers of assault rapes in Oslo. It’s unbelievable that things are so much worse here than in Stockholm or Copenhagen,” she tells NRK.

In the last year, Stockholm and Copenhagen have had 128 and 33 incidents, respectively.

Whilst these numbers are higher than in Oslo, percentages per 100,000 people are not. The Swedish capital has 1,989,422 people, and Copenhagen 1,119,224. Rapes account for 6.4 and 2.7 percent, respectively. The rate increases sharply to 7.9 percent in Oslo with its 607,292 inhabitants, however.

“They [the government] must address the entire problem, from prevention, to work helping victims and penalties for rapists. Sexual abuse is a major social problem in Norway,” says Herdis Magerøy, urging Norway’s officials to look at what other Scandinavian officials have accomplished.

Per Sandberg MP, Progress’ (FrP) leader of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Justice, declares the results have given Oslo a bad name.  

“Stockholm and Copenhagen have better police coverage. Police are more visible on the street in Copenhagen, they have a better cooperation with other agencies, and better contact with voluntary groups and places that serve alcohol.”

“We must establish more police, and police students must get a job. We also need to inform asylum seekers about Norwegian culture and women,” he says.

There have been 72 cases of rape reported in Norway this year.

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