How Trust and Prevention Drive Iceland’s Policing Strategy Trailer

A Trailer for our upcoming interview with Iceland’s National Commissioner of Police, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir - publishing 20th November on Policing.TV and this channel !!

Please like, share and Hit Subscribe to be the first to watch the full episode !!

Full text of the interview below:

In the second part of our exclusive three-part series, Policing TV speaks with Iceland’s National Commissioner of Police, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir. She shares how Iceland’s police force balances an extraordinary range of responsibilities—from armed response to national security, civil emergency planning to public protection—and the vital role of community collaboration, prevention, and trust-building in a modern policing model.

Commissioner Guðjónsdóttir also reflects on efforts to increase gender and cultural diversity in policing, and why issues of equality and inclusion are central to public safety—not “soft” topics, but hard strategic imperatives.

We recorded this series of three interviews shortly before November 14th 2025, when Sigríður stepped down from her role as the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police

Keywords
policing, community, personal touch, Iceland, law enforcement, relationships, arrest, families

Takeaways
Iceland’s police force handles a uniquely wide range of responsibilities, from first response to national security.
Prevention has become a major priority post-financial crisis and COVID, with strong cross-sector support.
Recruiting from outside policing and increasing diversity are seen as essential to build trust and reflect society.
Equality and inclusion are framed as core security concerns, not soft issues.
Iceland’s small, close-knit society allows for agility and unified emergency response.
Transparency, honesty, and community trust underpin Iceland’s policing philosophy.
Volunteers and NGOs are integrated into Iceland's approach to civil emergencies.

Sound bites
“Trust isn’t soft—it’s the foundation of policing.”
“We’re not just police—we’re also educators, emergency responders, protectors of democracy.”
“In Iceland, when something happens, we act as one.”
“We must reflect the community, or we risk losing its trust.”
“Diversity is a security issue—not just a moral one.”
“If we make a mistake, we own it. We apologize. We stay open.”

Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Overview of Icelandic Police Structure
01:50 – National Roles: From Civil Emergency to Armed Response
04:30 – Leading Through Crisis: COVID & Volcanic Eruptions
06:45 – Prevention, Vulnerability, and Early Intervention
09:15 – Inclusion, Diversity & Trust: Hard Issues, Not Soft Ones
13:00 – Lessons From Iceland for Global Policing


📌 Subscribe for more leadership conversations from inside and beyond policing
#IcelandPolice #policecommissioner #publictrust #policeleadership #policereform #womeninpolicing #inclusionmatters
   

PolicingTV content is being brought to you in partnership with  Kodex & World Policing Advisory

Kodex revolutionises the way organisations manage sensitive data requests from law enforcement and government agencies, transforming a traditionally complex process into a secure, streamlined workflow that ensures compliance, enhances security, and reduces operational costs.

Trusted by over 90,000 government agents and industry leaders like Binance, Airbnb, Match Group, and LinkedIn, Kodex sets the industry standard for secure data exchange — powered by a global intelligence network and advanced threat detection capabilities.

To learn more about Kodex, click here - If you are part of a government agency and need to create an account, click here 

World Policing Advisory is a global consultancy specialising in the future of policing and public safety. We offer global policing expertise, delivered locally through a model focused on consulting with conscience.  

Our teams have direct experience of strategic and tactical policing and private sector leadership, blended with the globe's best subject matter expertise to create high impact value for money services with in-year benefits.

For more information contact our MD, Gary Stuart ([email protected])