National Police Board has resolved on February 26th 2019 the legality control issues pertaining the apprehension of a reporter. The apprehension took place before a press conference that was held after the meeting of United States president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
An individual, who attended the press conference as a reporter, was removed from the press conference and later on apprehended by the police. The person in question had took out a piece of paper in the press conference. A message “Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty” was written on the paper as a demonstration. When the person did not stop their actions, they were removed from the press conference and apprehended afterwards.
National Police Board started their own investigation of the incident after the conduct of the police was criticized in news paper writings. The apprehended reporter also made later a complaint of the matter to National Police Board as well as to the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland. In addition, a person unrelated to the incident made a complaint of the apprehension to the Chancellor of Justice. These issues were handled by the National Police Board.
National Police Board acquired a statement from Helsinki Police Department as well as a report from the responsible officials.
According to the obtained reports, the police had first tried to intervene with the disruptive and inappropriate behaviour of the individual. When the person did not obey the orders of the police, the individual was removed from the press conference and apprehended afterwards to secure trouble-free continuation of the press conference.
National Police Board assessed the obtained reports and determined that the legal prerequisites for the apprehension were met. National Police Board concluded that in this kind of head-of-state level press conference, the police had heightened obligation to ensure that the event is not disturbed.
There was no evidence that the use of force would have been too excessive when taking into account the circumstances of the situation nor that the apprehension of the reporter would have lasted unreasonably long time. National Police Board also investigated other claims pertaining the apprehension. According to the reports and investigations, Helsinki Police Department did not in any way act in an incorrect manner regarding the apprehension.
The matter is reported after it has been resolved, for the decision had to be translated into English language and delivered to the foreign national. Decision POL-2018-22508 of National Police Board includes personal information of the apprehended individual and therefore it is not made public in its entirety. More information on the matter is not provided for the same reason.
