The percentage of criminal offences involving foreign nationals as suspects increased by almost three per cent (2.7%) from 2014. In the case of more than half of the offences suspected to have been committed by foreign nationals, the suspects are not residents of Finland, but are staying in the country temporarily.
In the case of some offences, the percentage of crimes in which the suspects are foreign nationals has increased significantly from the previous year. For instance, the increase in assaults is more than 24 per cent, and in rapes nearly 20 per cent.
In 2015, foreign nationals committed nearly 4,000 assaults and 217 rapes compared to approximately 3,200 and 180 in 2014.
The number of rapes reported to the police in 2015 in which the suspect was a foreign national increased by 37 from the previous year. Sexual harassment cases in which the suspect was a foreign national increased by 32 in September-December, compared to the same period a year earlier.
- In many of the sexual harassment cases, the suspect is unknown. In September-December 2015, 60 such harassments were reported to the police. Sexual harassment was included in the Criminal Code in autumn 2014, we are therefore unable to present any year-on-year comparisons at this moment, explains National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen .
The percentage of foreign nationals residing in Finland as the injured parties in crimes has developed at a steady rate, but remains only slightly higher than their proportion of the population. More than 230,000 foreign nationals reside permanently in Finland. This does not include asylum seekers.
Increase in asylum seekers not significantly reflected in crime statistics
The number of crimes recorded in police statistics involving foreign nationals also includes crimes in which the suspect is an asylum seeker. These incidents can, however, be distinguished from the total number.
Last year, almost 33,000 asylum seekers arrived in Finland, compared to approximately 3,500 the year before.
According to National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen, the increase in the number of asylum seekers is not significantly reflected in the crime statistics, but it has changed the nature of emergency calls.
- The disturbances and acts of violence seen in the reception centres when the asylum seekers had first arrived are typical in locations where the majority of residents are men, Kolehmainen says.
Sexual crimes in which the suspect is an asylum seeker have attracted widespread media attention. In 2015, 22 asylum seekers were suspected of sexual harassment, 13 of rape, 12 of aggravated rape and 2 of coercion into performing a sexual act.
Some of the asylum seekers are fighters from conflict zones, and the police have been tasked with highly complex investigations into war crimes and terrorist crimes committed in conflict areas.
Police step up preventive work
All police assignments related to asylum seekers are recorded in the police field command system under a special code. These include disturbances at reception centres, and all preventive patrol, transport or surveillance duties involving asylum seekers.
Educational work performed by the police, liaising with interest groups and assignments at public events are also included.
- The total number of assignments related to asylum seekers has grown somewhat recently, but this is partly due to enhanced police action to maintain public order and security, Seppo Kolehmainen points out.
The largest number of emergency calls related to asylum seekers come from reception centres. These mainly involve fights and disputes between asylum seekers and other disruptive behaviour.
- Shutting down certain reception centres and relocating their operations to areas with a stronger police presence will make the police better equipped and able to respond to emergency calls, Kolehmainen concludes.
By 19 January 2016, the number of attacks against reception centres totalled 17, four of which were petrol bombs. In addition, there have been various acts of vandalism.
Removals from the country by police officers on the rise
The number of people removed from the country by the police last year was 3,174, compared to 2,802 in 2014.
- Although the statistics for removals from the country do not significantly reflect the spike in asylum seekers, the police are prepared for an increase in removals.
