Iceland to slash police offices and launch new civil protection and security laws

Justice Minister Þorbjörg S. Gunnlaugsdóttir is preparing the most extensive police reorganisation in years, aiming to reduce the number of police offices and concentrate resources to improve statutory performance. The restructuring plan, slated for a November presentation, is one of 17 measures in the minister’s legislative programme for the next parliamentary term. Alongside the police overhaul, the agenda contains a sweeping civil protection bill, a security-services law intended to tighten oversight of door staff, and a continuation of immigration-law revisions covering residence permits and family reunification.

A revised organised-crime bill, building on Iceland’s first dedicated strategy, is also included. The minister spent the summer consulting officers across all commands, signalling a broad public-safety overhaul.