44 Norway Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs. Established January 2005 Police through the (1) Police Complaints Officer or (2) Police Complaints Committee The central mission is to investigate cases where there is a question as to whether members of the police or the prosecutor’s office have committed a criminal offence. The unit is not part of the police, but an independent Cases handled by officers will be responded to within ten weeks. Those handled by the committee can take up to fourteen weeks Pursuant to the Criminal Procedures The Bureau receives complaints from private citizens, lawyers or from the police themselves. In some cases the Bureau establishes a case on its own initiative, for example against the background of articles in the media. The complaints committee, which is made up of independent members, looks into the complaint and advises the competent authority. In addition to the committee, the mayor and/or the chief public prosecutor may also advise on how to proceed. The competent authority will base its decision on these recommendations. The police complaints officer is the independent contact within the police organization, and will discuss the complaint with the individual. The complaints officer will also discuss possible further action The Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs is an investigative and prosecuting unit. The Criminal Procedures Act governs the Bureau’s activities, Case handling and processing is carried out at two levels. The Bureau’s director does not participate in or issue instructions If the individual is unhappy with the decision they may take their complaint to the office of the Ombudsman Police Complaints Committee was established in 1994.