Law enforcement in Iceland - Icelandic Laws and
Regulations
The Minister of Justice is the head of the Icelandic police force and
the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (Ríkislögreglustjóri)
administers police affairs under the minister’s authority, with one
expection: The police force at Keflavík International Airport is placed
undier the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the airport area
is part of a military base.
The role of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police is to perform
adminstrative functions related to law enforcement. The office is in charge
of the police force and runs any police operations that call for
centralisation or coordiantion among various offices. The office also is
responsible for international police relations. Certain investigation
departments also are directly under the office of the National Commissioner
and the Commissioner has the authority of prosecution in cases concerning
economic offences, treason and related offences.
The various district Chiefs of Police in Iceland are responsible for
law enforcement in their areas, do investigation work regarding criminal
offences and have prosecution powers. They are also responsible for
collection of various taxes and fees, take care of cases regarding family
matters and perform civil marriages. They also handle registrations of
mortgages and deeds, settlement of estates and more.
Serious offences are prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who
also oversees the exercise of prosecution authority by district Chiefs of
Police.
Icelands geographical situation - Iceland border Control
Because of Iceland’s geographical situation, border control is of course
relatively simple, as there are few points of entry. The Icelandic Coast
Guard patrols the ocean around the island and organised passenger voyages by
ferry only take place in May-September each year. There is also some luxury
liner traffic to Iceland and freight ships and fishing vessels dock at some
harbours but outside established border posts, the coast is usually quite
inhospitalable and does not need to be patrolled.
Austurvelli, down town Reykjavik on a sunny day in August.
The Ministry of Justice keeps a web-page with all Icelandic Laws and
Regulations on judiciary Matters that are available in English.
http://brunnur.stjr.is/interpro/dkm/dkm.nsf/pages/eng_laws
Emergency assistance in Iceland – 112
If you need police assistance, an ambulance, firefighters or other
emergency assistance in Iceland, call 112, which will give instant access to
the 24-hour emergency hotline, Neyđarlínan. 112 is also a coordinated
emergency phone number for most of Europe. The aim is that anywhere in this
area, people only have to remember a single emergency phone number to call,
thus assuring a faster and more effective response.
Neydarlinan employees are very efficient and are all trained according to
EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) standards. There is a trained firefighter
working on each shift and all employees are well trained in first aid and in
helping people through the phone to deal with emergengcy situations while
help is on the way. Some emergency phone numbers in Iceland:
Dial 112 to report true emergencies.
All calls to this number are free of charge and the operators speak English.
112 Police
112 Ambulance
112 Fire
1770 Doctor, Emergency (in the Reykjavík area). 24 hour service.
575 0505 Dentist, Emergency (in the Reykjavík area). Saturdays and Sundays
11.00 am – 13. 00 pm.
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