How often have we read headlines like this?

“Man Gunned Down in a Hail of Bullets Outside his Home”
“Criminal Groups are Becoming More Organized”
“Two Separate Drug-Related Shootings Take Place in Two Days”
“Recent Killings Linked to Organized Crime”

We might see these headlines in any newspaper anywhere in America. But what makes these headlines unique is that they describe events happening in what is still considered the most peaceful country in the world: Iceland.

Iceland has less than 400,000 people. The country has a robust education system, is known for paying workers fairly, and there is an absence of tensions between social groups. Because of this, crime has historically been very low. Typically, when you hear about crime in Iceland, it’s happening in America, on a TV show, or in some novel. Furthermore, guns may be used in sports but are considered alien to the Icelandic mind as weapons, even for protection. The consensus is that they just are not wanted or needed.

But things are changing in Iceland. Criminal groups are forming, and they are becoming much more organized, according to Icelandic criminologist Margret Valdimarsdottir.

“They have more ties to international groups than we’ve seen before, which may be a challenge for our police force.”

This rise in criminal groups may be a challenge for Icelandic police because, among other reasons, their police force is so tiny.

The entire country of 400,000 people is about the size of the state of Virginia. Virginia employs approximately 23,000 police officers. Iceland only has 680.

And there is one more thing. Most of the police in the country do not carry guns or tasers. Only about 50 police officers in the entire country, known as the Viking Squad, are allowed to carry guns.

Crime Trends in Europe

For generations, at least when it comes to crime, Iceland has been fortunate to lag behind trends in Europe by about ten to fifteen years. But now, crime that has increased in many parts of Europe over the past decade, especially gun-related, is finding its way into this country, which is “of course a concern for us,” says Runolfur Thorhallsson, superintendent of the Viking Squad.

Thorhallsson says far-right groups, juveniles with behavioral problems, and those involved with drugs are leading the way when it comes to gun-related incidents. He adds that the numbers have gone up sixfold since 2014. “We see indicators that maybe people are less hesitant in this criminal world to use weapons.”

To address the situation, government officials are equipping police with tasers. At least at this time, they are reluctant to give police guns.

Furthermore, a government-run center for juveniles aged 12 to 18 is expanding. According to the director, Funi Sigurdsson, this is needed as quickly as possible. Opening the door to children even younger should be considered.

“Many young people ought to be in these centers as young as six years of age. If we had intervened [children with behavioral problems earlier], we could have prevented them from ending up in [crime and gangs].”

My Takeaway

Iceland is in a unique and fortunate situation. There are things they can do to address this challenge..

They have the opportunity to see what is happening in the U.S. and Europe when it comes to crime and can take steps now to head it off. At the very least, it should help them prepare for more gun-related crimes in Iceland and develop innovative ways to deal with it.

Furthermore, their opening of centers for young people is a potent step. Similar centers have opened up in parts of Europe and the U.S. and have proven successful in turning around the lives of younger people.

Johnathan Tal is Chief Executive Officer of TAL Global Corporation, an international investigative and risk-consulting firm. He served as a military field intelligence officer for the Israeli armed forces during the 1970s. Tal has also served as an antiterrorism security specialist. He is a licensed investigator, Certified Private Investigator (CPI), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and he holds a Bachelor of Science degree. He can be reached through his company website at www.talglobal.com.