Police
Svalbard is its own police district. The Governor has the same authority as a chief of police on the Norwegian mainland. This includes prosecuting authority in Svalbard.
The police in Svalbard have the same responsibilities as the Norwegian Police Service on the mainland. The police are fully integrated into the national police systems that cover operational and investigative requirements.
The Governor of Svalbard is on duty 24/7. Together with carrying out investigations and criminal proceedings, rescue services and emergency preparedness are important parts of the police’s sphere of responsibility.
The Governor of Svalbard is responsible for planning, leading and coordinating the rescue service for Svalbard under the overall direction of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway.
The Police Department’s personnel perform staff duties at the local rescue centre (LRS Svalbard) and conduct operational management and coordination of actions in the field.
The rescue service in Svalbard is part of the Norwegian rescue service and is organised in the same way as in mainland Norway. It relies on voluntary efforts. The Longyearbyen Red Cross Search and Rescue Corps makes up a considerable part of this rescue service.
Government agencies and private companies also have resources and personnel that are of great importance to the rescue service. On the whole, LRS Svalbard has extremely good resources and equipment at its disposal as well as a skilled emergency response team.
The Governor of Svalbard also performs all air ambulance services on the archipelago and in adjacent sea areas outside of Longyearbyen. Rescue operations in Svalbard must often be carried out in extreme weather and temperature conditions and in exposed areas. This poses great demands on the crew’s competence and on the resources that are used. The rescue service is a priority for the Governor and emphasis is placed on the development and maintenance of plans, exercises and cooperation with other actors in the rescue service.
The Governor of Svalbard has entered into a contract with CHC AS for the operation of two rescue helicopters. The model used is the Eurocopter Super Puma AWSAR. Both helicopters are among the country’s best equipped rescue helicopters. They are adapted for flying in extremely cold conditions and have a long range, auto hover function and thermal camera. They are also equipped for night flying and have de-icing equipment.
The Governor also has the service vessel M/S "Polarsyssel" at his disposal all year round. The vessel, which is 89 meters long, is ice-class, has a helicopter deck and an operations room for command and control.
In addition, The Governor of Svalbard has the following equipment at its disposal:
- belt wagon
- snow scooters
- patrol boats
- service cabins and fuel depots for helicopters
- communication equipment, including base stations that cover large parts of the busiest areas in Svalbard
- rescue equipment and personal equipment for field operations
- glacier rescue equipment
- oil spill equipment
Between 130 and 150 criminal cases are reported in Svalbard every year. The majority involve petty theft or criminal damage, but some involve serious accidents, environmental issues and workplace accidents. Environmental crime is a high priority at the Governor's office.
Section 2 of the Svalbard Act specifies that Norwegian criminal law applies to crimes committed in Svalbard. The Governor of Svalbard’s Police Department investigates possible criminal acts that are known to the police, either by reports or by officials from the Governor discovering conditions that should be investigated.
The Governor of Svalbard’s police authority covers the entire archipelago and its territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles from its baseline.
Crime in Svalbard differs considerably from the conditions in densely populated areas on the mainland. There are few serious cases of acquisitive crime such as burglary and numerically speaking the crime landscape is dominated by drunk driving, petty theft, thefts of mobile phones and minor criminal damage. The drug cases that have been investigated concern the use, possession and sale of small quantities of drugs. There are relatively few cases of violence.
Combating environmental crime
Svalbard has large wilderness areas that are subject to strict preservation legislation through the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. Combating environmental crime is a high priority for The Governor and emphasis is placed on preventive work through maintaining an active presence in the field. Several environmental cases are investigated each year and considerable fines have been issued.
The Governor of Svalbard also investigates violations of the fishing regulations in Svalbard’s territorial waters. Monitoring of these regulations is done by the Coast Guard, who works closely with The Governor and operates in Svalbard’s territorial waters in accordance with the agency’s instructions.