Mr. Ögmundur Jónasson, Minister of the Interior

Fighting against new threats and security;

a balance of rule of law and police efficiency

I would like to start by extending thanks to our hosts for organizing this conference and giving us the opportunity to take part in the discussions taking place here. On an increasing scale we need an international – if not a global – approach to the themes we are discussing, since the threats societies of our day are facing know no borders and cannot be tackled by any one country on its own – no matter how big and powerful it may be. These threats require collective action.

Iceland is a small country but we Icelanders have discovered that we are no exception to the threats a modern society can be faced with and we have learned that we can also be a threat to others. Thus the involvement of our newly privatized banking system in international banking, apparently often on the borders – and across the borders – of what is legally correct – not to mention the ethical side – lead to a serious financial crash with very serious consequences for the whole of society a few years ago – in the fall of 2008. This reminded us that the threats to society are not only military in nature, from organized crime of the physically brutal type, or cyber threats but have to do with the way we organize and run our societies; the way we set market forces limits by law and regulation and might I add – the way we set ethical standards; standards which indeed you cannot regulate for – but standards and norms a civilized society must always fight for. This is important for the well being, stability and security of a society.

I think it is also important when we discuss threats to countries and societies to remember what societies are made of. A society is a collection of homes and individual persons. A country may be safe and secure, well protected by police and a military, while groups and individaulas may live in fear, constantly at risk of mental and physical abuse, in their own home, at their work place or elsewhere in society. Here I am of course referring to violence against women and children. I maintain that these aspects to life should not be forgotten when we discuss ways and means of creating a safer and more secure world.

The Ministry of Justice in Iceland is part of the Ministry of Interior – under its umbrella so to speak – and there under we also place human rights. I think police, security and human rights are well placed under the same hat. I want to elaborate a bit on this.

In Iceland we are in recent years dealing with hard core oganized crime on a scale we have not known before – nothing new for most countries – but new for us on the scale we are experiencing. I want to tell you that in Iceland it gives optimism to see how determined society is to shut its doors on organized crime and uproot it from the very start. I am referring to groups who are involved in human trafficking, sale of hard drugs and so-called protective measures where money is bullied out of individuals and businesses by threats of violence. So far this is not at all widespread but we have seen these tendencies. Some of the groups involved are transnational and in common they share the claim to stand outside civilised society; society of law and order.

This reminds us of how important it is that there be trust between the public and the authorities. Here mutual respect is crucial. After all the authorities are the servants of the people, not the other way round. The main objectives of law enforcement are to ensure human rights and fundamental democratic principles in society. Respect for the rule of law, democratic principles and human rights are imperative for effective law enforcement aiming at guaranteeing security of the citizens and social stability. Respect for human rights by law enforcement agencies actually enhances the effectiveness of those agencies, contributes to public confidence building and fosters cooperation between the police and the community.

A few words about cyber threats. A number of the functions vital to society rely on stable information systems and cyber and computer services.  Hackers of all kinds can seriously threaten cyber security. Harmful software, including adware and spyware, can also disrupt cyber functions.

Social interests dictate that networks not the least government networks and networks related to critical infrastructures are protected from attack. But in doing so governments must be sensitive to the human rights of their citizens, in particular: Privacy, free speech, due process and judicial review. Cyber security should not be used as a pretext for new restrictions on these fundamental rights.

On the other hand crimes committed on the internet should not be exempted from criminal justice. We are aware that the EU is currently debating whether Cyber attacks on IT systems should become a criminal offence punishable by at least two years in prison throughout the EU and possessing or distributing hacking software and tools would also be an offence, and companies would be liable for cyber attacks committed for their benefit. 

By setting up a Computer Security and Incidence Response Teams (CSIRTs) to review and respond to computer security incident reports and activities based on a clear legal basis enables us to co-ordinate responses to cyber threats and to play an important role in defining risks and threats and educating the government and public about them.

At the beginning I referred to the economic side of security. After the economic crash in Iceland we are all the more aware of those dimensions of security that have to do with social and economic stability. The privatization of core services in society can in the end pose a threat to society.  Los Angeles was better placed than other Californians in the wake of the Enron disaster a few years back since the electricity services were in the hands of that that good city but not in the hands of speculators.

In Iceland we have found the cold breath of speculators down our neck – mostly of the economic kind but also of the political kind,  wanting to buy –up vital services – and getting a foothold to secure their interests in the future, apparently this is  a common experience of nations going though economic difficulties.

It is good to come together and share experiences – hopefully to learn from them and thus be better prepared to enhance the goal of making the world a better place to live in – more just and consequently more secure.

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