West Iceland police explain 17 million event security bill

West Iceland police say large events can require extra staffing and security measures, after an event organiser questioned a 17 million bill for policing a festival in Hellissandur. mbl.is reported that Jón Bjarni Steinsson, a restaurant owner and event manager, was charged for security at the Solar Eclipse Festival in August.

Jón Bjarni said police initially planned to charge him 38 million. The bill was reduced to 17 million after he amended his application.

Jónas Hallgrímur Ottósson, chief superintendent at the West Iceland Police, told mbl.is that the force’s main role is to ensure the safety of residents and others in its district. Its budget, set by parliament, must cover routine policing, emergency responses and readiness throughout the district, he said.

Large events can require substantial additional staffing and special security measures, Jónas said. Police must protect eventgoers while continuing to serve other residents, and the funding for extra policing should not reduce resources for ordinary police work.

Jónas said any fee must have a clear legal basis and be limited to costs that can lawfully be charged. The regulation governing restaurants, accommodation and entertainment events also requires police to consult applicants, act proportionately and treat comparable cases consistently.

Event managers who spoke to Heimildin and mbl.is this week said they had not seen consistent nationwide rules. Jón Bjarni said police issued the bill unilaterally and that he was told to pay it or risk not receiving a favourable opinion on his permit application.

Jónas said financial considerations alone do not justify charging a fee. Police should consult event organisers, consider their own safety measures and assess the need for extra policing based on factors including attendance, event duration and location. Police forces in the South and West Iceland districts have collected a combined 47 million for policing three events.