On 31 August 2018, the National Police Board centrally resolved several matters relating to the actions of the Helsinki Police Department last Independence Day, 6 December 2017. Several complaints were made on these matters. In addition, a proactive investigation was completed on certain claims, made in public, of erroneous actions by the police.
Relocation of the Lapset ja Alpakat (Children and Alpacas) event not an error
In its conclusions, the National Police Board stated that the police did not act erroneously in relocating the Lapset ja Alpakat event away from the Töölö Market Square. According to the reports received on the matter, the actual relocation decision was taken by the City of Helsinki in consultation with the police.
Since a public event does not automatically displace a demonstration announced earlier, the police's actions could not be regarded as erroneous.
Was possible that members of the Nordic Resistance Movement would participate in demonstrations – one assault still under investigation
Representatives of the Nordic Resistance Movement participated in the Independence Day demonstrations. Because the case concerning the abolition of the association was – and still is – being considered by the Turku Court of Appeal, the police had no means of intervening in the assembly.
The current legislation can make preventative intervention in freedom of assembly challenging, despite the subsequent abolition of the Nordic Resistance Movement. After the Court of Appeal's decision, the police will review their procedures in case of similar demonstrations.
According to reports received on the matter, a suspected assault occurred on Independence Day, involving one or more members of the Nordic Resistance Movement.
The Helsinki Police Department was also criticised for not arresting the suspects in question during the assault. The National Police Board concluded that, in a challenging crowd control situation, the priorities were ending the confrontation and helping the victim. Since then, the police have learned of the suspects’ identities and are continuing with the investigation of the matter.
Principle of least harm not realised in one arrest
The National Police Board also investigated certain other Independence Day incidents, including the grounds for four arrests. One of the arrested persons filed a report of an offence on their arrest The case is pending as a so-called police criminal matter, for which reason the police did not investigate the issue any further.
In the case of another person, the National Police Board regarded the arrest as justified, since the person in question had refused to comply with a police order to clear the area following the interruption of a demonstration.
The investigation of a matter concerning a third person will be continued by the National Police Board later, when a related pre-trial investigation has been completed.
With regard to one of the arrests, the National Police Board stated that the police should have escalated the matter in stages before making the arrest. The person was arrested at home on the grounds of previous violent behaviour.
The National Police Board viewed the arrest itself as having been justified. However, it also stated that, on the basis of the principle of least harm, there would have been stronger grounds for first forbidding the person from participating in the demonstration and then only arresting them if they had given tangible indications of intending to violating the instructions in question.
Decision POL-2017-45451 of the National Police Board is a public document and can be ordered from the registry of the National Police Board.
