Police Historical Bibliography

Introduction from the Norwegian Police History Society

The Norwegian Police History Society has long desired to create a bibliography on Norwegian police history. In the autumn of 2008, librarian Frode Thomassen was commissioned to undertake the task. It was decided that the bibliography would be registered in a database, and the program EndNote was chosen. Registering the bibliography in a database allows for internet accessibility and book publication. A traditional printed bibliography requires sorting materials by specific criteria, whereas an electronic database offers more search options and increased storage capacity. Additionally, a database can be continuously updated, while a printed bibliography is finalized upon printing.

The collection process was conducted through various methods. The national bibliography has been extensively used, particularly Bibsys, Norsk Bokfortegnelse, and Norsk Tidsskriftsindeks. Older printed editions were systematically reviewed, and different search strategies were employed in newer electronic versions. The so-called "snowball method" was also utilized, starting with the bibliography of a relevant book or article to identify other relevant publications. These bibliographies were subsequently reviewed to gain additional tips, and so on. Shelf browsing, such as in the book collection of the Norwegian Museum of Justice in Trondheim, was also employed. Specific tips from the Norwegian Police History Society and other individuals knowledgeable in Norwegian police history were another important source of information.

Finding a clear and straightforward set of guidelines for selecting material for inclusion in the bibliography has proven to be challenging. It is difficult to establish objective criteria that apply to all types of material, and each publication has been individually assessed for its relevance. Generally, the criteria have been stricter for newer publications compared to older ones. For example, a recruitment booklet titled *"Bli politimann"* from 1943 was included due to its detailed and interesting information about the police and their training. A similar booklet from the 1980s would likely be of less historical interest. Another example is *"Politivirksomhed i Sogn"* from 1884, detailing H. Heiberg’s experiences related to accusations of violating salmon fishing regulations. This book would not be considered relevant today but is historically significant due to its depiction of police work in a time with limited source material.

Even though it may seem fundamentally flawed to include or exclude a publication based on its publication date, it is difficult to completely avoid age as a criterion. The disparity in the volume of publications from the 19th century to today is vast, and valuable materials would be missed without considering this. While there was a consideration to set a specific year as a cut-off point, this approach was ultimately abandoned. Instead, each publication has been carefully evaluated, with stricter relevance criteria applied to newer publications. Nonetheless, the period around 1950 has emerged as an "unwritten dividing line." For books and articles published after 1950, the relevance criteria have been significantly stricter than for older works.

Defining a clear and absolute boundary for the selection based on document type has also proven challenging. Instead of applying strict distinctions, the emphasis has been on assessing whether each text may hold historical interest for users of the bibliography. Consequently, some publications initially not intended for inclusion were ultimately added, such as certain documents originally meant for internal police use. Here too, the relevance criteria have been much stricter for newer materials than older ones, partly due to the age of the documents and the post-war increase in the volume of published documents. Similarly, relevance criteria are stricter for master’s theses compared to doctoral dissertations.

A general rule of thumb can be formulated as follows: For materials not written with the explicit intent of preserving history, they must either be highly central or relatively old to warrant inclusion. This rule excludes much newer material that may be of research interest or potential historical significance, but a line must be drawn somewhere. If a relatively recent publication describes events or conditions far back in time, the threshold for inclusion is lower than for articles describing contemporary issues. General works on Norwegian history or local history, as well as publications on Norwegian conditions during World War II, have not been systematically reviewed due to the extensive source material.

Typically, inventory information—details on where a specific copy has been observed—has been omitted from the bibliography. However, for titles not found in Bibsys or for publications that may be difficult to locate, a note has been added about where the document was seen. When a publication’s content is not apparent from its title, short notes about the content are usually included. Additional information about the publication—such as format, publication history, or other external factors—has also been noted.

It is a known issue that finding subject terms for short, specific texts is often easier than for longer, more general publications. This is somewhat reflected here as well. If a subject term can be written in different ways, they are often registered in parallel (e.g., "Christiania" and "Kristiania," or "embedsmenn" and "embetsmenn").

Six different document types have been utilized:

• Book – Books, monographs, and individual publications.
• Book section – Chapters or parts of books.
• Journal article – Journal articles.
• Electronic article – Online articles.
• Serial – Entire journals.
• Thesis – Academic master's theses, major assignments, or dissertations.

The bibliography is presented in three lists containing the same titles but organized differently:

• By author
• By title
• Chronologically

Titles can be located either by browsing through the lists or by searching for keywords in the title, author name, or journal.

It is possible to locate titles either by browsing through the list or by searching for specific words in the title, author name, or journal.

Specific document types and subjects

Textbooks

Most textbooks have been excluded, but certain central and important textbooks are included. Many of these describe the police's role in detail. Textbooks and example collections that are more like compendiums, which are frequently replaced, are typically excluded. Books that may have historical interest for other reasons (e.g., Jonas Lie's "Kort rettledning for rapportskriveren") are included. The threshold for older textbooks has been lower than for newer ones. Textbooks included from recent years are generally comprehensive works describing broader areas of police activity, often including a chapter on historical context. A good example is "Publikumsrettet politiarbeid" (2 volumes) from 2004. Here, the volume "General Part" is included, while "Specific Part" is excluded.

Reports

Reports highlighting central aspects of police activity or examining the police's relationship with various population groups are generally included. Reports dealing solely with "internal" and administrative aspects of the police and "lensmann"’s departments are typically excluded. However, several exceptions are made, especially for highly central or old and intriguing publications – such as Redvald Larsen's "De underordnede politimænds tjenestevilkaar under den nuværende ordning" from 1913.

Research

Reports from larger research projects are included if the field pertains to central areas of police activity. The Police University College's series "PHS Forskning" has been systematically reviewed, and the most central publications and articles are included. A challenge here has been determining where to draw the line. Most of the material is highly relevant, though not all has a strong historical focus. Research that lacks a historical angle must address vital and central areas of police activity to merit inclusion in the bibliography.

Handbooks

Common handbooks, organized alphabetically as reference works, are generally excluded. Some exceptions have been made for old handbooks (e.g., Holmsen's "Haandbog for politilovgivningen" from 1890) and handbooks interesting for other reasons (e.g., Jonas Lie's handbook).

Guidelines

Recent practical work guidelines are generally excluded, but several old and historically interesting guidelines are included.

Dissertations and theses

The relevance threshold is higher for major theses, master's theses, and dissertations than for doctoral theses. Most included theses are from history, but fields like media studies, sociology, and political science are also represented. Works below the master's level are generally excluded, with a few exceptions where the lower-level work has garnered significant interest or application in the academic community.

Annual reports and other reports

These are generally excluded. However, reports containing historical material are included, as well as reports of significant historical interest. Many other annual reports would undoubtedly be excellent sources for police history, but reviewing all this material would be highly extensive.

Size

There is no absolute minimum length, but texts shorter than 2–3 pages must be highly relevant to be included.

Criminal cases, crimes, and punishments

Certain stories from major criminal cases where the police played a central role are included, such as material on the Bjørnerud murders, the "lensmann" murderer Madsen, the Torgersen case, and the Treholt case. However, literature on crime and criminal cases is generally excluded. Similarly, literature on prison systems and punishment methods is excluded unless it contains significant information about the police.

Foreign contexts

The bibliography covers only Norwegian police history. However, some titles primarily about foreign contexts are included if they hold historical relevance for Norwegian conditions. For example, Norwegian police officer Håkon Schønning's descriptions of police in other countries might have influenced the development of the Norwegian police system.

Information booklets

Short brochures aimed at informing the public are excluded. Slightly longer and more extensive publications might be included if highly relevant and covering central aspects of police and "lensmann" activities.

Instructional works and regulations

Most instructional works are excluded. However, various editions of the "Police Instruction" ("Alminnelig instruks for rikets polititjenestemenn") from the 1920 to 1971 editions are included. Some older local instructional works and regulations from cities like Oslo/Christiania, Bergen, and Trondheim are also included, provided they cover central police activities. More specific instructional works, like the "Weapon Instruction," are excluded.

Reports and public documents

Comprehensive NOUs (Norwegian Official Reports) and other public investigations describing central aspects of police organization, development, or history are generally included. Parliamentary messages and proposals, as well as laws and circulars, are excluded. Some central reports, considerations, and law drafts from before public investigations became common are included, particularly from the pre-World War II era.

Encyclopedia articles

These are excluded. However, much interesting material about central police figures can be found in encyclopedias, such as the *Norsk biografisk leksikon*, available in both print and electronic forms.

Classified material

Classified material for internal police use, such as *Polititidende*, is excluded.

Strategic plans and other plans

These are generally excluded.

Material on "lensmann" families

Pure genealogical works are mostly excluded, such as Wiesener's "Om fogden Niels Busch og hans slekt." Materials on "lensmann" families that also provide names and information about multiple "lensmenn", including details about their work, are generally included. Each case has been individually assessed due to the difficulty of setting an absolute boundary.

Materials about bailiffs

The bailiffs' roles and positions in the power hierarchy have varied throughout history. Materials about bailiffs before 1630, when they were placed more directly under royal administration, were initially considered for exclusion. However, since these publications are few, materials from both before and after 1630 are included, provided they cover bailiff activities.

World war II

Materials about Norwegian and German police in Norway during the war are included if they provide information about the police, not just the resistance against them.

Fiction

Fiction is generally excluded. However, some novels and stories based on real police experiences are included, as they often depict the police's everyday life at the time and contain many interesting stories. Relevant documentary novels, such as Gunnar Larsen's *To mistenkelige typer* and Rolf Sagen's *Mercedes-ryttaren*, are also included.

Journals

Some journals are analyzed in full for police history articles, such as the *Norsk Politihistorisk Selskaps årsskrift*. Many police and "lensmann" journals contain short entries of limited historical interest, so they are generally given one main entry in the bibliography instead of analyzing all volumes.

Analyzed journals

• Historisk tidsskrift
• PHS Forskning
• St.Hallvard
• Hardanger
• Norsk Politihistorisk Selskaps årsskrifter
• Nordisk kriminalteknisk tidsskrift (articles about police organization and significant cases describing police work representatively are included)