ABSTRACT
Norway partakes in the arrangement for seconding liaison officers to several forums. Seconding police officers has been a long-standing Nordic tradition. The Nordic Police and Customs Cooperation countries exchange liaison officers between themselves and have joint representation in non-Nordic countries. The Nordic model of joint liaison officers, representing more than one country, was unknown in other Schengen member states (MS). Liaison officers in the Schengen MS are not authorised to act on behalf of their contracting state with autonomous police authority, but "to provide advice and assistance". The Europol cooperation also has a system of liaison officers. Every MS's national unit is obliged to have at least one seconded liaison officer at Europol's HQ. The liaison officer thus seems like a closer, somewhat more informal, contact between the countries in question. Since there is ever more police cooperation, both operationally, and as regards information, the role of liaison officers as contact nodes and advisors becomes increasingly important.
