A controversial plan to deploy police drones across North Iceland has divided local councils, after the authorities unveiled a two-year trial intended to strengthen emergency response in rural areas.
Police Chief Páley Borgþórsdóttir has asked the six largest municipalities in the North to contribute ISK 2.5 million each towards the initiative, which is expected to cost around ISK 30 million in total. As reported in Vísir, the money would fund six DJI Dock 3 drones, training, and support equipment.
Eyes in the Sky
Police car at night / Credit: Páll Stefánsson
The unmanned aircraft, already on order, are designed to stream live images back to officers. They are fitted with zoom, thermal and night-vision cameras, and can operate in sub-arctic conditions.
Páley said they would be remotely controlled mainly from Akureyri, where the police station is staffed at all times.
In her letter to municipalities, Páley described the project as “an innovative piece of law enforcement work” that could help officers reach faster decisions, gather evidence sooner, and even reduce the service’s carbon footprint.
Councils remain split. Akureyri and Dalvíkurbyggð have backed the request, while Þingeyjarsveit delayed its decision pending more information. Norðurþing rejected the plan outright, arguing that police funding is the responsibility of the state.
The remaining two municipalities, Fjallabyggð and Langanesbyggð, have not yet voted.