In December 2013, the proportion of respondents that had very strong or fairly strong confidence in the Norwegian immigration authorities was 57%. This represents an increase of four percentage points from June, and is the second highest figure recorded during the last 12 years.
Twice a year since the summer of 2002, Opinion Perduco has asked a representative sample of a thousand respondents whether they have very strong, fairly strong, little or no confidence at all in the Norwegian immigration authorities. At its lowest, the proportion stating that they had very strong or fairly strong confidence was as low as 30%, while it was 59% at its highest.
In the most recent survey, in which 57% expressed confidence in the authorities, the proportion is highest among people who vote for the Christian Democrat Party, at 73%. Labour Party voters come a close second, at 71%, which is the highest proportion recorded for this group. Confidence in the immigration authorities is lowest among Progress Party voters, where the proportion expressing confidence was 35% in December, although this is nonetheless a strong increase from just 25% in June.
In all the surveys, there has been a clear connection between confidence and educational level, where confidence is strongest among those with the highest education. In the latest survey, 70% of those with at least four years' higher education had confidence in the immigration authorities.
In the surveys, the public is also asked whether they think that Norway's immigration policy is too strict. In December, 28% of the population thought that the policy was too strict, compared with 24% in June.
Attachments: 7 slides with graphic presentations.
The graphs in slides 1 to 4 show the trend as regards how many respondents express very strong or fairly strong confidence in the Norwegian immigration authorities. Slides 5 to 6 show the development as regards how many people think that Norway's immigration policy is too strict. Slide 7 shows how the general public's knowledge of the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) has developed.