The National Authority in Norway is No Serious Economic Crime Office Anymore? An Empirical Study of Press Releases

Abstract

One reason many nations have centralized policing functions is to manage knowledge that can take on and solve the most complex criminal investigations and prosecutions in the country. Somewhat similar to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økorim) is Norway’s central unit for fighting economic and environmental crime. After a scandal hit this national authority, the current research asks to what extent Økokrim is still a serious economic crime office. An empirical study of press releases from the national authority over a one year period, from June 2022 to June 2023, suggests that Økokrim has taken on less serious economic crime cases to close the competence gap between the requirements of new criminal cases and the qualifications among Økokrim employees and leaders. The consequence seems to be that from an estimated conviction rate of 1 out of 11 white-collar offenders in Norway in the past, less than 9 % are now brought to justice. This article contributes to the current state of knowledge regarding offender convenience depending on operations and policy choices of centralized crime agencies.