Snorri says government dodges police underfunding

Centre Party MP Snorri Másson accused the government of refusing to answer for the police force’s lack of funding during an unscheduled question session in parliament, mbl.is reported.

Másson said the police were underfunded and that the government was not taking the steps the force had called for, instead presenting plans that were also underfunded.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the state was paying 160 billion krónur a year in interest costs. “We need to close this gap so that we can further support, among other things, law enforcement operations and strengthen the police in the longer term,” she said.

Frostadóttir added that Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, whose portfolio includes the police, had been unable to attend the session. The minister has announced plans to reduce the number of police districts to three.