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"I applied to Politihøgskolen because I wanted a profession with challenging tasks and many opportunities. Now I work with hate crimes. It feels meaningful to work for minority groups who are subjected to crimes because of who they are", says Abetare.
Abetare is a specialist in hate crimes and has worked as an investigator and acting leader for what is now called the National Competence Center for Hate Crimes. In addition, she has a project position where she is part of an EEA-funded collaboration with the Romanian police to strengthen their work against hate crimes.
The main task is to establish a hate crime group in Romania, with headquarters in Bucharest, in addition to building their expertise in investigation and the phenomenon of hate crimes.
"I am very concerned with justice and equality, that everyone should be treated equally regardless of background", she says.
Fun to Work Internationally
The workday in the hate crime group is a bit different and especially for Abetare who also works a lot in Romania.
Sometimes she is traveling and conducting training and courses for the Romanian police. Other times she is at the police station in Grønland working on administrative tasks, creating training packages, and information videos. When she has free time, she assists with the investigation of cases in the hate crime group.
Abetare thinks the best part of the job is the varied tasks, where the group delivers on investigation, prevention, and intelligence. In addition, hate crimes are a prioritized field that is being invested in, both nationally and internationally.
"We are the only group that only works with hate crimes. Much of what we do is to set legal precedents in the field. It is very exciting to be part of developing the Norwegian police in this direction. I did not expect to end up in Romania when I attended the Police Academy, but being able to work internationally is very fun."
The Job is a Lot About Listening
The job has made her particularly aware of how one can experience inclusion and exclusion in society. She feels that she has gained a greater understanding of situations minorities can end up in, which the majority may not think about.
"You become very aware of microaggressions that can be burdensome for minority groups over time. It can be experiences such as people saying "you speak very good Norwegian" to a person who was born and raised in Norway. It often involves everyday unintended statements or actions that can seem degrading to those they are directed at. These small incidents can, over time, contribute to creating a divide between "us" and "them"."
In addition, she has learned a lot about communication management when meeting those who seek out the hate crime group.
"You learn a lot about communication in the police. For me, I have gained much of the knowledge gradually without being aware of it", she says and adds:
"In conflicts, it is about keeping calm and being a good listener. In this job, it is especially about just listening. Much is resolved by feeling understood and taken seriously."
Many Opportunities Within Investigation
When Abetare graduated from the Police Academy, she, like many others, wanted to work on patrol. The last thing she wanted was to work with investigations, but that is exactly what she ended up doing.
"Now I think it was absolutely right. It is of course very exciting and an unpredictable everyday life with a lot of adrenaline, but career-wise I saw that there were more opportunities that appealed to me within investigation. At the same time, I do not hide that I would have liked more experience from patrol."
It was quite by chance that she ended up working with hate crimes. When she worked with investigations, she worked with her former intern supervisor, who was the leader of the hate crime group. It was she who set Abetare on the path to a new career.
Do you have any tips for those who want to work with hate crimes?
"Politihøgskolen offers further education in the prevention and investigation of hate crimes, in addition to further education in investigation. Then you get some insight into the phenomenon and can find out if this is something for you. I also think that if you do not get a job in this specific field right away, it is possible to start working in other fields within investigation. Then you become an attractive person for the hate crime group over time", says Abetare.
She thinks it is important to point out that even though not all police districts have their own hate crime group, there are opportunities to work within hate crimes. The districts now have their own teams that are contact persons within hate crimes.
"Not everyone can work as a hate crime contact or in the hate crime group", Abetare continues.
"You must be suited for it. You should be a person who meets those who seek us out in a respectful and sensitive manner. In criminal cases, much of the focus is on the perpetrator, but in hate crime cases, it is the victim who is at the center. We see that victims in hate crime cases stand out from other victims, as they may struggle more with the psychosocial aspects afterward. This is because they are subjected to an act based on their identity."