Two town councils reject planned police mergers

The town councils of Vestmannaeyjar and Fjarðabyggð oppose proposed police restructuring that would merge local police offices, mbl.is reports. The Ministry of Justice’s plans would reduce the number of police districts from nine to three, including by merging the police chief’s office in Vestmannaeyjar with offices in South and East Iceland.

Vestmannaeyjar’s council said the island community’s distinct needs, transport conditions and civil protection requirements called for an independent police office with local leadership, knowledge and decision-making. It urged the government to abandon the plans and preserve the office’s independence. The town manager was asked to seek a meeting with the minister of justice.

Fjarðabyggð’s council also rejected the proposed closure of the independent police office in East Iceland, saying responsibility for policing would be moved several hours away and outside the Northeast constituency. It cited the region’s extensive business activity, port imports and exports, border-control work and experience with natural hazards as reasons local expertise and civil protection leadership were important.

The council called instead for more staff, better equipment and funding that reflects the scale of police work in East Iceland.