The Role of the Police in Iceland’s System of Civil Protection and Emergency Management

Abstract

In Iceland, since 2008, there has been a centralisation and coordination of forces and resources needed to protect the population and civil security. Duties in the fi eld of civil protection at the national level are delegated to the National Police Chief, who acts in accordance with the government’s policy of civil protection and security. The system’s reliability has been achieved thanks to the close cooperation of offi cials from many levels of government and self-government administration, which is overseen by the National Police Chief.