The number of offences and the police’s emergency response assignments growing in Helsinki

Demand for the Helsinki Police Department’s emergency response, surveillance, investigation and licence services increased last year. The Helsinki Police Department responds to the growing workload by making changes. Police officers will be more visible on streets and in schools this year.

The number of emergency response assignments has increased in all emergency categories. The response time for the most urgent cases, classified as A-tasks, was 4.9 minutes. Emergency response also covers demonstrations and several other long-term assignments that consume police resources. 

The growing number of offences mainly comes from increases in fraud, theft and petty theft. In contrast, serious violent crime decreased in Helsinki last year. This includes homicide, its attempt and aggravated assault. Sexual offences reported to the police increased significantly compared to the previous year, partly due to legislative changes related to sexual crimes.

The increase in youth crime has been curbed since 2023, but the overall crime rate remains high. According to the University of Helsinki’s 2024 Youth Crime Survey, the perceived threat of violence among young people has also risen in Finland.

Criminal proceeds recovered during investigations of economic crime cases totalled EUR 12.67 million. This is an excellent achievement.

Key figures of the Helsinki Police Department

The Helsinki Police Department has restructured its organisation from the beginning of this year to respond more effectively to the needs of the changing operating environment and the continuously growing demand for police services. The development measures taken by the Helsinki Police Department increase emergency response capabilities and visible surveillance related to safety on streets, and improve the efficiency of daily crime investigations.  The particular aim is to stop the increase in crime related to children and young people, and to prevent the activities of street gangs and organised crime from expanding. 

“We want to meet the expectations of Helsinki residents, which include the rapid arrival of emergency patrols and increased police visibility. We will succeed in this with the help of our skilled personnel, committed partners and more efficient activities,” says Jari Liukku, Police Chief at the Helsinki Police Department.

“The impact of the organizational reform can be assessed in terms of public area safety in the short term. However, when it comes to evaluating its effectiveness in mitigating the risk of individuals and population groups falling into cycles of crime, such assessments are typically only possible in the medium term. In both cases, changes in the operational environment play a decisive role, which is why it is essential to be prepared to adapt operational models quickly when necessary,” Liukku adds.

Positive feedback given on increased surveillance

One of the Helsinki Police Department’s focus areas is to increase visible surveillance in public areas with many people and prior disturbances. Visible surveillance reduces disturbances, prevents crime and expedites the investigation of offences.

Surveillance operations were changed in a more systematic and data-driven direction at the end of last year. The new operating model has yielded excellent results both in terms of the number of assignments and tasks and the effectiveness of operations. Based on feedback received from citizens and stakeholders, surveillance has produced expected results. The development of surveillance operations will continue this year. 

“Restlessness in the Kaisaniemi Park was a hot topic last autumn. It was the first area at which surveillance in line with the new concept was targeted which seemed to improve the situation. At the beginning of the year, we have targeted surveillance at shopping centres, public transport vehicles and public transport stations. Surveillance is also carried out in cooperation with stakeholders,” Superintendent Jere Roimu says. 

The increased surveillance in Kluuvi and Kaisaniemi has yielded positive results. From October onwards, surveillance in the area was increased by over 50 % compared to 2023. As a result, robberies and assaults in public places decreased by more than 10 % compared to the previous year. Overall, criminal offenses in the area declined by 15 %. However, proactive police surveillance increases the recorded number of certain crimes, as they come to police attention. Drug-related offenses rose by 18 % in 2024 during the intensified surveillance period.

Investigation procedures made more efficient in the Criminal Investigation Division

In the new organisational model, investigation procedures for domestic abuse and juvenile delinquency have been made more efficient. The former investigation procedures no longer provided a sufficiently efficient response to the growing number of cases and responsibilities.

Serious crimes committed by 15–17-year-olds who are criminally responsible, as well as severe domestic violence offenses against adults, will henceforth be investigated by specialized investigative units focused on serious crimes. The groups consist of experienced investigators who can focus on the investigation of serious and difficult cases. 

The high number of youth crimes and domestic violence cases against adults mainly consists of minor or basic offenses, which will be investigated using preliminary and daily investigation processes. With regard to these new arrangements, resources have been significantly increased for the investigation of theft and daily crime. The purpose of this reform is to streamline the investigation flow for these types of crimes. As part of the new arrangements, the resources for daily criminal investigations have been significantly strengthened.

“According to the Criminal Investigation Act, all crime committed by young people must be investigated urgently. This means that investigation arrangements must be such that all crime, be it a traffic offence, vandalism, theft or murder, can be investigated and cases can be closed urgently. These new arrangements help us respond to this even better than before,” says Markku Heinikari, Detective Chief Superintendent.

Domestic violence offenses against children will henceforth be investigated by the same specialized unit as sexual offenses, the number of which increased significantly in Helsinki last year. The Criminal Investigation Act also requires the police to urgently investigate sexual and violent offences targeted at minors. In the new organisation, investigation resources have been significantly strengthened regarding sexual offences and violence targeted at children. 

The reform significantly strengthened investigative resources for sexual offenses and violent crimes against children.

“Victims of this type of crime are in a particularly vulnerable position which requires special expertise from criminal investigators. To this end, our criminal investigators have completed specific training related to this field of investigation,” Heinikari says.

Anchor activities focus on breaking the cycle of crime among children aged under 15 years

According to guidelines received from the National Police Board of Finland, anchor activities were transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division. The activities are carried out as part of the new investigation group for juvenile delinquency, which is responsible for the investigation of criminal acts committed by children aged under 15 years and related anchor dialogue. In addition to police officers, anchor activities involve social and youth workers, from the City of Helsinki and a psychiatric nurse.

“Last year, the four people with most thefts under their name in Helsinki were all under 15 years of age which speaks volumes about this situation. Many young people tied to serious cycles of crime have been placed in children’s institutions, from where they can escape whenever they want. During such absences, they account for a large part of serious cases of violence,” Heinikari says.

One of the key focus areas of anchor activities is to break the cycle of serious crime by children under 15 years with Helsinki’s child welfare services. Anchor activities also include consultation and stakeholder cooperation in relation to domestic abuse and honour-related violence.

School police officers make their presence seen at schools and provide problem solving support

The Police of Finland has built a model of national cooperation with schools, which will be implemented at schools during 2025. Police officers will make their presence seen at schools to provide support especially in problem solving situations. In addition, the police provides the opportunity to attend national online lessons regarding law. 

“In Helsinki, this means that we have notified all schools in the city of how the police can be quickly contacted in practical problems. We have appointed two full-time school police officers who support schools in challenging situations,” says Jani Aunio, Chief Inspector in charge of school police activities.

School police officers, together with other surveillance personnel, will also make their presence seen actively outside schools and in their immediate vicinity. The police will inform school rectors of the police patrols in advance. 

“If you see a police officer outside a school, you don’t have to be worried. Our aim is to talk to children and young people to hear how they are feeling, and increase their trust towards the police. We want children and young people to know that police officers are safe adults, and they can always come and talk to them and ask for help,” Aunio says.

More information about school police activities is available at:

• https://poliisi.fi/koulu25
• https://poliisi.fi/en/school-policing-helsinki