In 2011 the Chief of Police in Western Finnmark Police District applied for a change of name for the unique Norwegian police force, arguing that the name is understood to have a negative connection with reindeer husbandry.
Names like “Nature Police”, “Mountain Police” and “Outfields Police” have been suggested. Now the Ministry of Justice has decided that the police unit will keep its old name. The Reindeer Police’s tasks and organization have not changed, so therefore there are no reasons to change the name, the ministry says according to NRK Sapmi.
The Reindeer Police was established in 1949. Its main task is to combat crimes against nature and the environment and to police Sami reindeer herding within its area of jurisdiction, which covers the county of Finnmark and the northern parts of the county of Troms – an area of 56,000 square kilometers. This vast territory is policed by a mere 15 officers.
