The financial statements and annual report of the National Police Board of Finland for 2024 have been completed. The police can be considered to have succeeded at least reasonably well in their demanding duties in 2024. As an example, in emergency response assignments, the police arrived at the scene in the target time of 9.8 minutes, even though the number of assignments increased.
The confidence shown by Finns to the police continues to be at a high level. According to the latest barometer, 91 per cent of Finns trust the police fairly much or very much.
Number of demanding assignments rising
The number of police assignments related to surveillance and emergency response operations has increased significantly in a few years. While the number of assignments has increased, the assignments have also become more demanding than before, and more and more often the assignments require the presence of more than one patrol, at least in a supporting or securing role. It is particularly noteworthy that the increase in people’s mental problems both in connection with house calls and on the streets is also evident to the police. Moreover, younger and younger people are committing crimes.
The increased number of particularly demanding assignments – such as those that have received international attention, for example in sea areas – and especially making preparations for such situations have occasionally caused a significant increase in the workload.
One of the key performance indicators in the emergency response operations of the police is the operational response time, which includes urgent emergency response assignments, so-called Category A incidents. However, in 2024 the operational response times were kept at a good level, either within the set target or even below the target time. The police have managed to go below the target time of 9.8 minutes in Category A incidents by on average one tenth at the national level.
The police allocated resources to daily crime investigation and youth crime investigation
More resources were allocated in 2024 to criminal investigation, which was a specific focal area for the police and an objective stated in the Government Programme of Finland. Particular emphasis was placed on daily crime investigation and youth crime investigation. This allocation of resources has aimed at balancing the workload and resources of police units.
The number of offences recorded by the police has increased somewhat in recent years. Although the number of offences in some police departments has remained rather stable, in the longer term it seems that the number of offences in several police departments has returned to the same level as about 10 years ago. The operating environment in crime prevention has changed essentially in recent years. The distinct transfer of crime to data networks and crimes becoming increasingly international have a significant impact on the results.
The police are developing administration
The general situation with public finance deteriorated clearly in the spring of 2024 after the completion of the Government Programme of Finland. The outlook is also becoming challenging for the police when considering the overall operational capability of the police. Due to the deteriorated public economy, the Government has had to make significant cuts in spending in the form of productivity savings.
In accordance with the overall security model of Finnish society, the police are responsible for significant duties. The objective is to preserve the ability of the police to protect citizens and social order also in rapidly changing situations.
The achievement of the obligations to attain savings also requires critical scrutiny and prioritisation by the police.
“The number of police officers is not being reduced. Instead, the police are developing their operation so that the impacts on police operations are minimised,” says Tiina Pelkonen, Chief of Planning and Finance of National Police Board of Finland.
The objective of the productivity programme of the police is to balance the finances within the funding provided and to achieve the targeted savings so that the objectives of the Government Programme can be attained and so that the capability of the police remains at a sufficient level. Other focal areas include measures concerning cost containment, aiming at cutting cost increase pressures in the coming years and adjusting operations to the funding provided.
Human resources
In 2024, the actual number of person-workyears of the police was 10,477. The total number of police person-workyears rose from 2023 by 95 person-workyears (0.9%). In accordance with the Government Programme of Finland, the number of police officers in active duty will be increased to 8,000 person-workyears by the end of the Government term, and the increase will be made to consolidate police operations.
The number of new students studying for a degree of Bachelor of Police Services has been increased so that the number of police officers will rise in line with the above-mentioned goal. In 2024, all available intake for police training was fulfilled, and more than 500 students were selected for the training.
