Janne Jansson, Stadin Skoude 2025, monitors safety in Helsinki: “Work is more meaningful when its content is diverse”

Stadin Skoude in 2025 is senior sergeant Janne Jansson who works in Field Operations in the Response and Control Division. The Helsinki Police Department awards merited police officers with the annual Stadin Skoude recognition.

The recipient of the Stadin Skoude recognition was announced at the Helsinki Police Department’s annual event on 13 February 2025. This year’s recognition was given to senior sergeant Janne Jansson who works in Field Operations in the Response and Control Division as field surveillance and shift manager.

“Surveillance operations are carried out wherever disturbance is encountered. If there are no specific disturbances, surveillance will be directed at other areas,” Jansson says.

For people in Helsinki, there is practically no difference between police patrols working in response and surveillance operations, but the operations differ from each other in practice. In response operations, police patrols carry out their response duties and independently initiated tasks. In contrast, surveillance patrols maintain public order and safety in Helsinki. Work is carried out with other units of the police department, as surveillance patrols also monitor requirements for residency and arrival in Finland, and make their presence seen during state visits, demonstrations and public events.

“Whenever there is an emergency response assignment, we will arrive at the location following the principle of nearest patrol similarly to response patrols,” Jansson says.

Having worked his entire police career at the Helsinki Police Department, Jansson drove patrol vehicles in southern parts of Helsinki for almost 20 years. He has worked in surveillance operations since 2020. Jansson enjoys his work, as no two days are alike.

“The range of tasks is very broad, and that’s what makes surveillance so interesting. Many recently graduated police officers may think that surveillance is boring, but there are so many things you can do.”

Cooperation between the authorities offers development opportunities

Surveillance is also carried out linked to various themes, including traffic safety and alcohol serving locations. Thematic surveillance is often carried out in cooperation with other authorities. For example, alcohol service locations may be monitored with specialists from the Regional State Administrative Agency, the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Tax Administration or the rescue department.

Jansson says that cooperation is a two-way street: you learn more about how others work and find ways to improve your own work.

“When working in the field, you often also realise what you should learn more or better. In the surveillance of residency and arrival in Finland, it’s especially important to continuously develop yourself and identify up-to-date information to keep surveillance effective and productive.”

Cooperation between the authorities also plays a significant role in the surveillance of requirements for residency and arrival in Finland.

“In this, other key elements include the prevention of cross-border crime and illegal entry in the country. Here the Finnish Border Guard is our most important partner. Close cooperation with the authorities in the Schengen Area promotes and supports the maintenance of internal security,” Jansson says.

Always something new to learn

Learning something new and self-development have always been important to Jansson. Before his police career, he was a member of the volunteer fire department, with training and courses being part of his hobby. Now he enjoys learning something new, both inside and outside the workplace.

In the criteria for the recognition, Jansson is described as a police officer who has a positive approach to changes and develops not only himself but also the operations of his shift. As a supervisor, he also likes to encourage his team members toward studies.

“In surveillance in particular, the foundation of professional competence should be as solid as possible. Even if you don’t know everything, you can still make observations, ask for advice from the right place and do your job from start to finish. If you have a long career as a police officer, work is more meaningful when its content is diverse,” Jansson says.

Safety can be affected by being seen

In everyday life in the city, surveillance patrols can mainly be seen as police patrols on city streets. According to Jansson, police officers in surveillance operations can best have an impact on safety and security by stepping out of their vehicle and taking a look around.

“The journey is important in this. You don’t go to the railway station to admire the scenery but to keep an eye on public order and safety, and to prevent crime. By being seen, you can best have an impact on safety and people’s sense of security,” he says.

With its diverse content, maintaining safety and security in Helsinki is intensive work. After closing his locker door at the end of a shift, Jansson likes to head to the nearby woods with his dogs.

“I can, say, sit on a stump and think about what to do next. This way I can relax after a hard day’s work,” Jansson says.