Northwest Iceland police staff oppose merger plans

Staff at the Office of the Police Commissioner for Northwest Iceland oppose proposed changes to the structure of police districts, set out in draft legislation by the justice minister, mbl.is reported.

In a submission, the staff said there was no demonstrated need to reduce the number of police districts from nine to three, or evidence that the proposed mergers would improve policing in Northwest Iceland.

They said the draft did not sufficiently account for the needs of rural policing, the importance of local accountability or the community policing developed in the region. General aims of creating larger, stronger units could not replace a reasoned assessment of how services for residents in each area would be maintained and improved, they said.

The staff called for the merger proposals to be dropped and existing operations strengthened, including investigations, community policing and cooperation between police districts. If the plans proceed, they said the draft should be fundamentally revised following a regional needs assessment and genuine consultation, with local services protected by law and funding secured.

The submission said residents’ safety depended on police being present, knowing the community and being able to respond to its needs.