Norway to Introduce Military Police Authority on Arctic Island
The Norwegian Armed Forces has a small station on the polar island of Jan Mayen, situated on the border between the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea. The Norwegian Armed Forces have 15 employees here, responsible for operating an airport and other infrastructure. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute also has two employees on the island. (Photo: Anette Ask/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense believes the current security policy situation calls for the expansion of the military police's scope to include the Norwegian Arctic island of Jan Mayen.
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has sent out a proposal for comment, which includes the expansion of the military police's authority to Jan Mayen.
By applying the Military Police Act to Jan Mayen, a military area can be established and enforced on the island.
As an officer in the Armed Forces, the station commander on Jan Mayen will have military police authority and will be able to intervene to maintain security, discipline, peace and order and to prevent or stop violations of the law on the island.
Protecting sovereignty
The station commander is already a military employee, but with limited police authority to enforce alien control and fisheries supervision on site. All other employees at the station are civilian employees.
The limited police authority granted to the station commander has historically been intended to protect Norwegian sovereignty and fisheries resources.
The proposal follows a demanding and uncertain security policy situation
"Current activity and infrastructure, or the Armed Forces' need for security, discipline, peace and order have not been taken into account," the proposal from the Ministry of Defence states.
Same procedure as on the mainland
The proposal follows a demanding and uncertain security policy situation, where allied support and activity in Norwegian areas has increased, including at Jan Mayen.
The Ministry of Defense believes that the possible presence of allied forces on the island should be regulated in the same way as on the mainland.
The Ministry therefore believes that the current security policy situation, seen in light of the future increase in Norwegian and allied presence in the area, indicates that there is a need for an expansion of the geographical scope of the military police authority to also include Jan Mayen.
Jan Mayen became subject to Norwegian sovereignty in May 1929 and was incorporated as part of the Kingdom of Norway in February 1930. Jan Mayen is not part of any Norwegian county, but is subject to the County Governor of Nordland.
The consultation deadline is set for Monday, January 12th, 2026.
