The police aim to promote safety and security and prevent crime even more effectively than before. To support this work, the police will implement, in stages, the Police Intelligence System, Poti.
From separate systems to a joint notebook
Poti provides a centralised recording and ERP system for data that can be gathered, stored and processed before initiating the actual criminal investigation. Comprehensive and consistent processing of data will increase the transparency and quality of operations.
Any data recorded in the Police Intelligence System is not related to military intelligence by the Finnish Defence Forces or civilian intelligence by the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo).
With crime becoming increasingly diverse and mobile, the police must revise its operating models accordingly. The Poti system will increase cooperation and the exchange of information between police units and enable the use of data both locally and nationally. In turn, this will make it possible to identify, more efficiently than before, any early signs of series of crime as well as any modus operandi, types of action, quiet signals and phenomena and individuals raising concerns.
In addition to centralised information management, the introduction of Poti will reduce costs arising from the maintenance of several separate systems. The systems that Poti will replace include the system for recording observation and message transmission data, as well as the register of suspended offenders.
Cooperation beyond authority borders
In addition to the police, Poti will be used by Finnish Customs, the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces. This will improve the exchange of information between the various authorities, which has occasionally been criticised for being too slow. Shared use will also enable the more efficient distribution and allocation of resources between the authorities.
High level of legal and privacy protection
One of the key goals of the new system has been to safeguard a high level of legal and privacy protection. This is promoted by the centralised recording of data, clear ownership of data and consistent processing and maintenance practices throughout the life cycle of data.
Any information processed in the system has been divided into various groups of data with predefined storage times and access rights. After the storage period has ended, the system will automatically delete the data. Despite the fact that data is shared through Poti, not everybody can see all data. The more sensitive the data, the fewer people will have access to it. Furthermore, any processing of data will be recorded in a log file.
Data security and privacy protection will be ensured through technical solutions and by providing users with training and instructions. The use of the system will be monitored through the internal legality control of the National Police Board and the individual police units.
Citizens will be able to check their data, if any, kept in police registers. Part of the data is subject to an indirect right of access. This means that citizens can request the Data Protection Ombudsman to check whether information on them is recorded in the system and whether it is processed in compliance with the law.
Further information on data protection and the rights of data subjects is available on the Police website at: About the police/Data protection and the rights of data subjects in the police.
The Police Intelligence System Poti in brief
- A national information system developed by the police.
- Implementation began on 17 December 2018. Will be available to all police units by the end of 2019.
- In addition to the police, the system will be used by Finnish Customs, the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces.
- The goal is to prevent and uncover crimes, instead of investigating them afterwards.
- Provides a consistent recording and ERP system for all data that can be gathered, stored and processed before initiating the actual criminal investigation.
- Centralised, comprehensive and consistent processing of data will increase the transparency and quality of operations.
- In addition to more efficient information management, the introduction of Poti will reduce costs arising from the maintenance of several separate systems.
- Of the separate systems currently in use, Poti will replace the system for recording observation and message transmission data as well as the register of suspended offenders, the use of which ended on 3 December 2018.
