avhøres

Avhøres is a Norwegian verb meaning to question or interrogate someone as part of an investigation or legal proceeding. The act of avhør is typically conducted by law enforcement officers or prosecutors and can involve suspects (mistenkte) as well as witnesses (vitner). The term is used in criminal, and to a lesser extent administrative, contexts to describe the formal collection of statements or information.

In practice, an avhør is usually held at a police station, a prosecutor’s office, or another designated venue. The purpose is to elicit factual information about events, establish timelines, verify statements, or obtain admissions relevant to an inquiry. Avhør may be recorded by audio or video, or reduced to a written transcript to preserve the accuracy of the statements and to provide an evidentiary record for later use in court.

Rights and safeguards are a central aspect of avhør. Depending on the jurisdiction and the person’s status (e.g., whether they are under arrest), individuals may be informed of their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to have legal counsel present. Interpreters are provided when needed. It is also common for authorities to avoid coercive techniques and to ensure that questions are fair and not designed to intimidate or mislead the interviewee.

The statements produced through avhør can become part of the evidentiary material used in judicial proceedings, subject to rules of admissibility and the handling of evidence. Critics emphasize the importance of proper safeguards to protect voluntary, reliable testimony, while authorities stress the need for thorough information gathering in investigations.