Saturday, August 29, celebrates the traditional National Police Day. In Helsinki, the event will take place at Narinkkatori and at the Itis shopping centre.
On Saturday 29 August, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., members of the public can find out more about police work at both Narinkkatori and the Itis shopping centre.
At Narinkkatori, a wide range of police vehicles and equipment will be on display, along with staff from various police functions. A small ensemble from the Helsinki Police Band will entertain visitors, and mounted police officers will be present throughout the event. Liikenneturva (the Finnish Road Safety Council) will also take part.
The event at the Itis shopping centre will focus particularly on children and families with children. A police quad bike and motorcycle will be on display. The Police Band's children's group will perform, and the police lion mascot will also be there to delight visitors.
Securing everyone in all circumstances
This year's national theme for Police Day is the police's updated vision: "Securing everyone in all circumstances." The theme is particularly fitting for the Helsinki Police Department, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The police department was established in 1826. Its task was to maintain order in the growing city, protect people from crime, and uphold civil peace.
"Although the operating environment today is completely different, the core task of the police has remained the same: to keep people safe, protect the city, and to secure everyone in all circumstances. Each year, Helsinki police respond to around 170,000 emergency tasks and handle 100,000 criminal offences. Public trust in the police is built by our being present when we are needed. Trust must also be earned, and it is measured in every encounter with the public," says Jari Liukku, Police Chief of the Helsinki Police Department.
"The police must be present wherever people are. Police Day is an excellent opportunity to meet members of the public, to have important conversations about people's safety and sense of security, and to make police work familiar to everyone," Liukku adds, welcoming everyone to the Police Day events.
Police Day events will be held on 29 August in a number of locations across Finland. You can follow related topics on social media using the hashtags #PoliisinPäivä, #PolisensDag and #PoliceDay. Further information on all national events is available on the website: poliisi.fi/poliisinpaiva.
