According to the police, urgent incidents such as burglaries are too often reported electronically. This makes it more difficult for us to catch the perpetrators and, for example, collect forensic evidence at the crime scene.
– Do not hesitate to call the emergency number if you suspect that there's an emergency or some other situation urgently requiring the presence of the authorities, says Chief Superintendent Jyrki Aho of the National Police Board.
When to call the emergency number?
Call the emergency number in cases of emergency or when law enforcement is otherwise urgently needed, or if you have reason to believe that someone’s life, health or property, or the environment is threatened, Aho explains.
– If you detect an accident or a fire, or when an ambulance or a social worker is needed, call the emergency number. Urgent crimes are typically cases where the crime is still happening or has just happended, or where the police should come to collect evidence from a crime scene, for example after a burglary, Aho says.
Report non-urgent incidents electronically
The electronic service for reporting offences is designed for non-urgent cases that do not require immediate action from the police. The electronic report can also be used to report a lost or stolen ID card or passport. On the basis of the information submitted, the police decides whether a report on an offence or some other type of report should be filed.
To submit an electronic report on an offence, you must identify yourself electronically using your online banking codes, chip ID card, or mobile certificate. For more detailed instructions on how to fill out the report form, please log into the service.
Whenever a report form is completed, the police department of the locality where the incident took place will be notified. The police will then review the online report and records it in the police data system. Reports are mainly processed during office hours.
