Iceland 2018 Crime & Safety Report According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Iceland has been assessed as Level 1. Exercise normal precautions. Overall Crime and Safety Situation U.S. Embassy Reykjavik does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Reykjavik as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Please review OSAC’s Iceland-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Iceland continues its steady recovery from the economic collapse of 2008. Crime Threats Based on information from the Icelandic National Police, local news sources, and previous reporting, crime continues to be lower than in most developed countries and countries of similar size and demographics. The low levels of crime are a product of a high-standard of living, a small population, social attitudes toward criminality, and a well-trained, highly educated police force. Iceland has experienced an increase in petty crimes that correlates directly with the exponential growth of Iceland’s tourist industry. Reports of minor assaults, sexual assaults, rapes, automobile theft, vandalism, property damage, and other street crimes persist, especially in the Reykjavik metropolitan area. The majority of these crimes are attributed to juvenile delinquents, drug users, immigrants, and visiting tourists. According to police, the rise in pickpocketing is a direct result of an influx of immigrants/asylum seekers and the increased presence of tourists. The Icelandic National Police have identified small, organized crime groups and outlaw biker gangs (chapters of the Hell’s Angels and Outlaws motorcycle clubs) maintaining a minor presence. Since 2013, authorities have increased pressure on these organizations, substantially reducing their reach and effectiveness. Authorities have deported or excluded visiting criminal support elements from Europe with some degree of success. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ), which was returned to a cabinet level agency in January 2017, has provided additional resources in the fight against organized crime with positive results. The government of Iceland has taken steps, including a reorganization of the Icelandic National Police, to detect and combat trafficking in persons before it takes a foothold in Iceland. Officials are concerned that the growth in the construction and tourism industries could result in an influx of trafficked persons. 1 Iceland has traditionally had a murder rate of less than one per year for the last several decades. In a notable deviation from this trend, Iceland saw four homicides in 2017. The Commissioner of Icelandic National Police considers this an aberration and not evidence of increasing violence in Iceland society. Cybersecurity Issues In June 2015, Iceland unveiled its National Cyber Security Strategy to protect important elements of the cyber infrastructure and develop solutions to growing cyber threats that pose a hazard to the government, the economy, and the citizenry. In 2018, the new Icelandic government has pledged to increase its capacity to prevent and respond to cyber security threats, implement legislation based on international norms, and establish closer collaboration and coordination on cyber security between Iceland, partner nations, and leaders in the information technology industry. Iceland suffered its first serious cyberattack in December 2013, when major telecommunication carrier Vodafone was hacked, and detailed personal information on hundreds of Icelanders was released on the internet. Early 2015 saw the servers of several small, private institutions cyberattacked, and a private missionary organization’s computer network was attacked by hackers aligned with ISIS. In November 2015 and in January 2016, in a demonstration against Iceland’s support of commercial whaling, the Icelandic government’s public websites were attacked by the hacker collective “Anonymous.” Iceland enjoys wide internet freedoms; accordingly, its well-educated populace is wired-in to a high degree. This permissive environment fostered the growth of WikiLeaks. Public sentiment continues to support legislation and actions ensuring maintaining internet freedom. Transportation-Safety Situation For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.” Road Safety and Road Conditions Though Iceland has a fairly modern highway system, roads are not constructed for speed. Many roads outside of the main highways are undeveloped and often composed of unpaved, loose gravel. The primary risk factors when driving outside of populated areas are single-lane bridges, unexpected animal crossings, poor surface maintenance, lack of emergency lane/shoulder space, icy/windy road conditions during the winter (October-April), and tourists who are inexperienced at driving or driving in Icelandic weather conditions. Travel into the highlands and interior is not advisable during the winter or during inclement weather unless using well-equipped, off-road capable (4x4) vehicles under the supervision of experienced guides. Interior roads are usually closed during the winter. Occasionally, even main roads in more populated areas may be closed due to heavy snow. See www.road.is for road conditions. Automobile use is relatively high; Iceland possesses one of the highest ownership rates in the world, comparable to that of the U.S. This does not, however, cause much traffic congestion due to low-urban density. For more information on self-driving, please review OSAC’s Report “Driving Overseas: Best Practices.” 2 Public Transportation Conditions As a result of high vehicle ownership, demand for public transport services remains low. Public transportation is relatively underdeveloped, and many areas are poorly served compared to other capital cities. Limited but effective services are provided in major urban areas. There are nationwide coach and bus services that link the major towns and cities, although many Icelanders use domestic flights to get from one major town to another. Strætó bs, the public bus system, operates its services in metropolitan Reykjavík. Strætisvagnar Akureyrar is the public bus system in Akureyri. Iceland is also investigating the feasibility of building a light railway system to service the Reykjavik metropolitan area. Aviation/Airport Conditions In 2015, the Keflavik International Airport (KEF) announced a 25-year Master Plan to accommodate the rapid increases in tourism to and through Iceland. It is estimated that the passenger flow will continue to increase beyond the 9 million passengers that transited KEF in 2017 to over 10 million passengers in 2018. When fully implemented, KEF airport will be able to handle between 14 and 25 million passengers per year. Other Travel Conditions Despite being an island nation, Iceland has limited international sea services, featuring regular ferry service from the Faroe Islands (Denmark) and local ferry services operated by Eimskip between Þorlákshöfn, Landeyarhofn, and the Westman Islands. Terrorism Threat The U.S. Department of State has assessed Reykjavik as being a LOW-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns According to the Icelandic National Commissioner of Police, there is no known international or transnational terrorist threat against U.S. interests in Iceland. Iceland is party to the Schengen Agreement, which eliminates all internal border controls between member states. Lack of stringent border control can facilitate the movement of international terrorists as has been the concern with terrorist activity throughout Europe in 2016. There is no known domestic terrorist threat against Americans in Iceland or local activity regarding regional terrorist organizations. Anti-American/Anti-Western Sentiment The U.S. Embassy has seen a number of relatively minor protests over the last few years, mainly featuring non-violent demonstrations. In August 2014, there was a demonstration of approximately 2,000-3,000 people in front of the U.S. Embassy in support of Palestinian issues. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence The U.S. Department of State has assessed Reykjavik as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. 3 Civil Unrest In April 2016, Iceland experienced its largest public demonstrations in history, as over 22,000 people protested outside the Prime Minister’s office in Reykjavik. This multiple-day, non-violent protest was prompted by revelations from the Panama Papers, showing that several senior Iceland officials (including the Prime Minister and Finance Minister) had large investments in foreign corporations to circumvent Iceland’s austere capital controls. The public outcry over these revelations forced then-Prime Minster Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson to resign. The 2016 U.S. presidential election also caused several small, non-violent demonstrations in Reykjavik. Religious/Ethnic Violence