Westfjords police demand urgent action over unfit premises

Two Westfjords police supervisors say their workplace is entirely unacceptable and are calling for immediate action, mbl.is reports. Police operations moved from the station in Ísafjörður in May 2025 because of mould. The current premises were intended as a temporary solution, but a year and a half has passed without improvements.

Ingvar Jakobsson, chair of the Westfjords Police Association and chief inspector with the force, said concerns about ventilation at the station were first raised by the Labour Inspection in 2015. Ventilation was supposed to be replaced, but that never happened, he said.

The issue began to move forward after the association, frustrated by unanswered requests for mould testing, paid for tests itself. All samples were well above healthy levels, prompting the move to the former Íslandsbanki premises in the Administration Building.

Ingvar said the new accommodation is too small and has poor air quality because it has no ventilation. Staff have repeatedly reported pain in their sinuses, eyes and lungs, he said. They have also tried, without success, to arrange mould testing at the premises.

In a Facebook post, supervisor Ingibjörg Elín Magnúsdóttir described other shortcomings: the police investigation unit is housed in a small room, on-duty officers share their workspace with the break room, and the changing room is in view of other people.

Ingvar said no one had yet left because of the conditions, which he attributed to the commitment involved in police work. But he said he would not be surprised if staff began considering leaving if there was no progress before the end of the year.

A resolution adopted by the Westfjords Police Association this summer called for measures to protect staff health and safety. The association considers the current premises dangerous for employees and wholly unacceptable as a workplace, and has urged the state, responsible ministers and other authorities to act immediately.