The Ministry of Justice in Iceland has proposed creating a special unit to combat organized crime, according to a law enforcement plan released this week and reported by mbl.is. The proposed measure comes amid a reported surge in criminal activity and growing dangers facing police officers in the country.
The plan from the Ministry describes several worrying trends, noting that criminals have begun ambushing police officers at their homes. It also states that there are signs criminal organizations are paying others to commit violent acts on their behalf and, increasingly, exploiting children for criminal purposes.
According to the Ministry’s plan, the number of active criminal groups in Iceland has increased by about 50 percent. However, the details of how this figure was calculated, and the specific time period it covers, have not been disclosed. The plan suggests that a dedicated unit could be needed to address these new challenges but does not outline what form the unit would take, its powers, or when it might be established.
Icelandic authorities have not released further information on the data supporting these trends or made clear when the proposed special unit might launch. mbl.is was the first to report on the Ministry’s new law enforcement plan.
Sources
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
