Helsinki Police response time improves further despite rising number of call-outs – crime clearance rates up, including for serious offences, and investigation times shorter

Helsinki Police's response time for the most urgent call-outs improved further in the first half of 2026. Officers reached the scene in 4.7 minutes on average, the fastest result on record. This was achieved despite a growing number of call-outs and changes in the operating environment.

In the early part of the year, Helsinki Police handled a total of 81,014 call-outs, up 5.2 per cent on the same period last year. At the same time, the number of offences under the Penal Code rose by 4.5 per cent. Despite the increase in call-outs, the police have managed to raise the clearance rate and shorten investigation times. The police have also stepped up visible patrols across different parts of the city.

"A year ago, we already achieved a record response time. Since then, we have continued to refine our operations. For example, field officers moved from Malmi to Pasila and now start their shifts from Pasila. There were concerns about how these changes to our working methods would affect service levels in different parts of the city. The results now show that the police are reaching urgent call-outs faster than ever before, even though the number of call-outs has grown," says Jari Liukku, Police Chief of the Helsinki Police Department.

Both call-outs and proactive tasks have increased

The number of the most urgent call-outs rose by 12.2 per cent in the early part of the year, reaching a total of 5,487. The average response time for Category A (most urgent) call-outs was 4.7 minutes. This is the best result in the history of the Helsinki Police Department and is well within the five-minute target.

Helsinki Police have continued to increase visible, on-foot patrols, particularly in areas with high levels of disturbances, substance abuse problems and crime. A total of 43,931 proactive tasks were logged in the early part of the year, over 2,900 more than in the same period last year. These accounted for more than half of all call-outs.

The number of public order maintenance tasks rose by 18.3 per cent compared with the same period last year. Foot patrol order maintenance tasks numbered over 10,000, an increase of 16.2 per cent on the previous year.

"A visible presence is one of the most effective ways to prevent disturbances and to increase residents' sense of safety. At the same time, it allows us to respond more quickly and to direct our resources to the areas where they are most needed," says Chief Inspector Henri Helminen of the Emergency Response and Patrol Unit.

More crimes reported, but investigation results improving

Helsinki Police recorded a total of 45,459 offences under the Penal Code in the early part of the year, up 4.5 per cent on the previous year. The largest increase was in petty theft, which rose by 17.2 per cent.

Despite the rise in the number of offences, investigation results have improved. The clearance rate for offences under the Penal Code rose to over 55 per cent, clearly exceeding the target of 50 per cent. At the same time, the average investigation time was shortened by seven days, to 149 days. For serious offences, the clearance rate rose to 74.1 per cent, against a target of 70 per cent set for the Police Department.

The number of urgent pre-trial investigations involving child victims rose by 15.3 per cent, with 1,581 cases recorded in total. The investigation time for serious offences against children has shortened by almost six per cent.

At the same time, the number of open economic crime cases at Helsinki Police has fallen, while the number of closed cases has increased. There were 1,065 open economic crime cases in the early part of the year, 49 fewer than the previous year. A total of 305 economic crime cases were closed, 13 more than in the same period last year.

Drug offences reported to the police numbered 2,497 in the early part of the year, a slight increase on the previous year. Drug use and related crime are reflected in the police's call-outs as well as in day-to-day patrol and investigative work. Helsinki Police will continue to tackle drug-related crime in cooperation with other authorities.

Immigration status checks and removals from the country stepped up

Helsinki Police have significantly increased checks on the conditions for staying in the country. A total of 2,840 checks were carried out in the early part of the year, an increase of almost 48 per cent on the previous year.

The number of removals from the country also increased. A total of 489 people were removed from the country in the early part of the year, up 8.4 per cent on the previous year.

"Immigration status checks and removals from the country are an important part of maintaining public order and safety, and of tackling crime," says Chief Inspector Simo Kauppinen.

Demand for licensing services continues to grow

Demand for licensing services was very high in the early part of the year. By the end of May, a total of 72,599 paid licences had been granted.

Most of these licences were travel documents. A total of 69,391 passports and other travel documents were issued in the early part of the year, an increase of 14.3 per cent on the previous year. Based on the current forecast, almost 160,000 travel documents will be issued over the course of the year, around 20,000 more than last year.