National Police Commissioner Resigns

National Police Commissioner Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir has resigned, various media outlets report. According to a press statement announced by the Icelandic government, Minister of Judicial Affairs Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir confirmed Sigríður’s resignation after the two met on Sunday, November 9.

“This is a harmonious conclusion and the correct decision made by Sigríður Björk,” the Minister stated. “It’s imperative that the police enjoy peace and trust. We now face the task of rectifying the operation’s of the national police commissioner and continue to  improving the Icelandic police,” the statement continues.

Sigríður is set to be transferred to the position of sexual violence operations specialist at the Ministry of Judicial Affairs.

Grímur Hergeirsson has been temporarily appointed the new Police Commissioner, starting on November 14. Grímur has 30 years of police experience, serving as the South Iceland police chief since 2022.

In late October, RÚV revealed that in office as police commissioner, Sigríður Björk had been purchasing services from a single company amounting to 160 million ISK (1.100.890 EUR) over a five-year span.

The company in question, Intra, consists of a single person named Þórunn Óðinsdóttir. Its duties on behalf of the commissioner included purchasing office furninture, introducing lean management to the police’s operations, and helping moving the office of Police Commissioner between locations.

Facing serious criticism from elected MPs, Sigríður told Vísir on October 31 that she would not reconsider her position as police commissioner and did not find it reasonable to resign.