2023 saw a surge in violent crime, police chief reports

“There was something that happened in 2023. That was the biggest increase in violent crimes and criminal offenses we’ve seen. All the numbers went up,” says Páley Borgþórsdóttir, police chief for the Northeastern Police. She explains that while authorities had hoped for a reversal, the situation has not improved.

The Northeastern police issued a statement yesterday outlining several serious violent crimes. Among the incidents reported were a man thrown from a balcony, an attempted vehicular assault on another person, and a dangerous situation in which a man crashed his vehicle into a police car while officers were nearby.

Rising drug use and mMental health struggles

Borgþórsdóttir attributes some of the violence to high levels of drug use and the associated mental health problems. "The environment has become worse and more difficult," she explains. “Drug use is high, and the mental health issues tied to it are increasingly noticeable.” She suggests this has created a breeding ground for violence, with an alarming trend of people carrying weapons across all age groups.

This rise in violence and criminal activity is not limited to the Northeastern region. The police in the capital area have expressed similar concerns. Borgþórsdóttir confirms there is a direct link between the regions when it comes to the rise in crime rates.

Domestic violence escalates

“There is an overall increase in violence in society,” Borgþórsdóttir states. “We’re seeing more serious cases of physical violence, including knife attacks, head kicks, blunt force trauma, and other violent acts.” She draws a parallel between Akureyri and Reykjavík, noting that while the frequency of violence may be slightly lower in more sparsely populated areas, the severity of the crimes remains consistent.

Domestic violence, in particular, has grown more severe, with both the acts and the responses to them becoming more extreme. Borgþórsdóttir acknowledges the trend but refrains from linking it directly to the isolating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite suggestions that such isolation may have contributed to increased tensions in some households.

The situation is one that continues to challenge law enforcement across the country, and Borgþórsdóttir urges greater attention to both the immediate and underlying causes of the rise in violent crime.