Recent police report sheds light on the situational picture related to firearms

The National Police Board of Finland has published an analysis report, which aims to support the work of the Government Programme and provide situational information on the firearms licensing process and firearm-related offences and disturbances.

The analysis shows that ultimately only a small percentage of offences committed with a firearm are offences of serious violence, such as aggravated robbery, assault or homicide (including attempted homicides). Nationwide, around 5% of incidents of offences of serious violence have been committed with a firearm. Since the beginning of 2022, the highest monthly figures for offences of serious violence with firearms have been recorded in April and August of the current year. Monthly figures have typically numbered around five incidents.
 
Although an upward trend which started a few years ago can be seen in the total number of firearms offences, the number was lower in the first half of 2024 than at the beginning of 2021.
 
“The rise appears to be linked in particular to an increase in basic firearms offences. Minor firearms offences have remained fairly stable over the past two years, and there has been little change in aggravated firearms offences over the past few years," explains Analyst Mika Sutela, Analysis Operations at the National Police Board.
 
The number of police tasks involving firearms has remained more or less unchanged over the longer term. 
 
A thematic analysis carried out in the late summer and early autumn has compiled information on weapons licensing and firearms-related offences. The structure of the report follows the police operational framework, looking at firearms issues from the perspectives of prevention, detection and investigation. 
 
“This is the first comprehensive analysis of firearms ever carried out by the Finnish police,” Sutela says.
 
The report is based on public sources such as surveys, media sources and data from the police statistics system. The report covers all core police processes: emergency response and law enforcement, permit administration, and crime prevention and traffic safety. 
 
“The background for the analysis is the Government Programme, which contains a number of regulatory reform measures relating to aggravated firearms offences,” says Deputy National Police Commissioner Sanna Heikinheimo.
 
The report can be read on the External environment and statistics page of the police website.