Helsinki Police Department will be visibly monitoring public order and safety in public places during May Day celebrations, 30 April – 1 May 2020

Publication date 29.4.2020 14.34
News item

From 30 April to 1 May 2020, on the evening of May Day Eve and during May Day, the police will be visibly monitoring public order and safety in Helsinki’s city centre and elsewhere in the city.

- For May Day celebrations this year, people must not gather in large groups in the streets or parks of downtown Helsinki. This is something everyone has to take responsibility for, and parents should remind their children too not to gather in large groups in public places, emphasises Helsinki Police Department Superintendent Seppo Kujala .

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional May Day Eve and May Day events, such as speeches and processions, will not be organised in the city centre of Helsinki this year. The City of Helsinki, in collaboration with its partners, will be offering virtual May Day events online. For example, the traditional crowning of the Havis Amanda statue, popularly known as Manta, will be done in virtual reality.

- There is no programme in Helsinki city centre this year, and people should not gather in Esplanadi park, around the Havis Amanda or in Kaivopuisto park. Even if people only gather in small groups, a number of these groups quickly turns into crowds consisting of hundreds of people, which may endanger public order and safety, Kujala cautions.

Helsinki Police Department will make further announcements about the monitoring of public order and safety on May Day Eve and May Day on Twitter at www.twitter.com/helsinkipoliisi and Instagram at www.instagram.com/helsinkipoliisi/

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Helsinki Police Department News Press releases imported from old site