Police officers are concerned about staff shortage within the police force, and a dangerously low ratio of educated police officers, according to the National Police Union. A shortened workweek for shift workers which took effect May 1 has negatively affected the situation.
In a statement published on the National Police Union’s website, the Union’s board declares their concern over the police situation, claiming working police officers are too few and the ratio of police officers who have completed their police studies education is dangerously low.
The board believes the authorities aren’t doing enough to react to the shorter work week’s effect on police work, stating: “Despite promises and contracts in place, authorities have not granted funding to hire additional staff.” This leads to fewer police officers on duty at any given moment which greatly affects police officers and the public’s safety.
“When a shorter workweek was negotiated for shift workers, it must have been clear to authorities that more police officers would have to be hired and funding for police education would have to be increased,” the declaration further stated. “Police officers demand that authorities uphold contracts and grant the funding needed to sufficiently staff the police.”
Icelandic workplaces have been implementing a shorter workweek in stages and on May 1, a full work week for shift workers went from 40 hours to 36.
