Survey of Everyday Safety, 2003

Section for interview surveys at Statistics Norway (SSB) carried through a self-completion questionnaire in the period from November 2003 to January 2004 about everyday safety. Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) financed the survey. Department of Public Health and General Practice at Norwegian University of Science and Technology collaborated on the project.

The aim of the survey was to gather new knowledge about the extent of domestic violence in Norway. By domestic violence we mean violence between people who have been or are in a relationship. The questions are among other things about safety in the local environment, physical and mental health as well as the extent of violent actions in relationships. Those who rapport domestic violence in the beginning of the interview are asked about the last action, both in relation to what actually happened as well as whether the person concerned sought help.

Because of the peculiar theme for the survey, SSB considered it as necessary to have an emergency apparatus on alert for respondents who needed to talk about the experience. The employer was responsible for establishing a hotline that was operative in the field period, through the Norwegian Red Cross. The hotline was also mentioned in the survey.