The police responds to over a million calls each year. Responding to these calls is a visible part of police work which can raise questions and affect the overall feeling of safety. The police strives to improve their communication with the media and people. To serve this purpose, a national operative communication team has been established. Its mission is to support all police departments when they first release information about incidents.
– We want to improve our communication services particularly outside service hours and in situations in which life and health are in danger. Our aim is to start communications immediately when something surprising occurs, at any hour of the day or night, states Chief of Communications Marko Luotonen from National Police Board.
The goal is to initiate communication immediately when something surprising happens. The need for information is at its peek during the first hours after the incident. The police tries to correct false information and rumours as far it is feasible within the law.
As a general rule, communication during incidents is concentrated on the official twitter accounts of police departments. Everyone can follow these accounts in their web browser. The police strives to offer reliable official information to all evenhandedly and without a delay. Communication can be initiated even when there is some information and more can be told as the situation progresses.
The operational communications team has operated in Helsinki for a year and a half. The aim is to make this service nationwide. The first stage of the expansion is piloted for a year.
– Operative police actions in a changing operational environment requires active leadership, creation of situational picture as well as real time communication, states Superintendent Jussi Huhtela from Helsinki police department.
Official Twitter accounts of police departments:
All press releases @PoliisiTiedote: www.twitter.com/PoliisiTiedote
Helsinki Police Department @HelsinkiPoliisi: www.twitter.com/helsinkipoliisi
Häme police department @Hameenpoliisi: www.twitter.com/Hameenpoliisi
Eastern Finland Police Department @PoliisiIS: www.twitter.com/poliisiIS
Eastern Uusimaa Police Department @IUPoliisi: www.twitter.com/IUPoliisi
Southeastern Finland Police Department @poliisi_kaakko: www.twitter.com/poliisi_kaakko
National Bureau of Investigation @krp_poliisi: www.twitter.com/krp_poliisi
Lapland Police Department @LapinPoliisi: www.twitter.com/LapinPoliisi
Southwest Finland Police Department @L_S_poliisi: www.twitter.com/L_S_poliisi
Western Uusimaa Police Department @LUpoliisi: www.twitter.com/LUpoliisi
Oulu Police Department @oulunpoliisi: www.twitter.com/oulunpoliisi
Ostrobothnia Police Department @pohpolost: www.twitter.com/pohpolost
National Police Board @SuomenPoliisi: www.twitter.com/SuomenPoliisi
Central Finland Police Department @SiSuPoliisi: www.twitter.com/SiSuPoliisi
