If you wonder if a crime has been committed, contact police. You do not need to know whether a crime has occurred or what crime is in question. It is enough if you have a feeling that something wrong has happened. You can always come to talk with police, even without a specific reason.
Click on the boxes below for more information and links on how to leave a tip to the police, filling out a police report and the criminal process.
You can leave crime tip-offs to the police in many ways. You can leave a tip on the internet as a net tip or through feedback forms.
You can leave crime tip-offs to the police in many ways. You can leave a tip on the internet as a net tip or through feedback forms. Police also has regional tip line numbers and email addresses.
You can leave an anonymous tip. However, police recommends that you give your name and contact information so that information can be further clarified if needed.
Leave a crime tip-off to police
You can file a police report at any police station. Anyone can file a police report and the one filing the report does not have to be a victim of a crime. In cases where there is no need for immediate police intervention you can file a police report on the police website. In an emergency call 112.
You should file a police report as soon as possible so that the police can start investigating the crime quickly. You can file a police report even if the offender is under the age of 15.
If you have injuries as a result of a crime, go to a doctor as soon as possible. You can go to a doctor before visiting a police station. Medical certificate given by a doctor can be required later during a trial or as evidence. If you have been a victim of sexual violence avoid getting cleaned up or changing clothes before going to the doctor.
Do not do any cleaning or tiding up at the scene of the crime before the police has checked the scene. Avoid any unnecessary walking at the scene of the crime before the police has arrived.
A crime may cause you direct financial costs if for example property has been damaged or you have medical costs as a result of a crime. Hold on to all the receipts and consult a professional to approximate the number of damages caused if needed.
At the police station the police report is often filed at the open customer service desk. You can request a separate space for filing a police report.
A specific description of what has happened and the people involved is required for the police report. Possible witnesses also need to be reported to police.
Crimes are subject to statute of limitations. This means that police cannot investigate a crime and the crime cannot lead to a sentence if a long time has passed from when it has taken place. Statute of limitations can range from two to twenty years after which the person suspected of a crime can no longer be prosecuted. For example, an assault more serious than a minor assault has a statute of limitations of five years and aggravated assault has a statute of limitations of twenty years. Crimes for which one can be convicted to life imprisonment such as murder do not have statute of limitations.
Write down everything you can remember from the situation such as the time of the events. You should collect the contact information of the witnesses right after the incident and preserve all written material such as e-mails, receipts, screenshots of messages etc.
A minor can also file a police report. A person under the age of 15 can be questioned during a crime investigation but it is rare. The younger the child in question the more careful consideration there is before questioning. If the victim is under 15 years of age their legal guardian acts in their behalf. Legal guardian is also invited to questioning and judicial proceedings of 15-to-17-year old's but they do not act solely on behalf of the minors.
If a legal guardian or other close person is suspected of a crime, a public trustee can be requested. A public trustee's job is to protect you from the offender of a crime. A public trustee is usually a lawyer or other person who has gone through a training for the role. Public trustee's role is specifically to enforce the victim's interests and to make sure that everything goes right during the investigation.
It is safe to come talk to the police even in difficult situations such as if there is a violent parent at home. Job of the police is to guarantee safety in all situations.
If some situation concerns you, you can start by talking in the chat on the Victim Support Finland's website. Victim Support Finland is not the same as police but instead an independent organization.
You can get help to file a police report from police and Victim Support Finland.
After a police report has been filed starts an investigation on has a crime been committed, who is the guilty party and a decision is made on a possible punishment. It is not necessary to know how the case will proceed when filing a police report. The situation might however be easier if you know what will happen in advance.
In a pre-trial investigation police will investigate more specifically what has happened:
Obligation to remain truthful: Victim of a crime has to describe the course of events and remain truthful. A suspect in a pre-trial investigation does not have the obligation to remain truthful meaning that they do not have to tell the truth under the threat of punishment because of the right against self-incrimination. Self-incrimination protection is also known as non-cooperation principle.
Interrogation record: An interrogation record containing the information the victim has told is made of the interrogations. It gets approved by the victim.
TIP: Corrections and additions can be made to the interrogation record if needed.
Compensation for damages: Police will ask about claims for damages during the interrogation. Crime may cause you direct costs if for example your property has been damaged or you have medical expenses. You can also make a claim for pain and ache as well as mental suffering caused by violence.
TIP: Hold on to all the receipts and consult a professional to approximate the number of damages caused if needed.
1. Not for prosecution: If no crime has taken place, there is no information who has committed the crime or the victim does not demand punishment the case ends here.
Prosecution - who decides if the case goes forward?
2. Fine: The offender is fined and the victim gets possible compensation for damages after which the case is settled.
3. Mediation: Sometimes it is easier to try to solve an issue without trial and police will try to direct the case to mediation. In mediation the parties to the crime can process the harm caused by the issue and come to an agreement about compensation with an impartial mediator. Mediation is free. Read more about mediation from the webpage of Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
TIP: You can make a motion for mediation instead of a trial. Mediation is voluntary and you can withdraw your consent to it anytime.
4. Restriction of a pre-trial investigation: Police can request restriction of a pre-trial investigation from a prosecutor if for example the accomplishment of the criminal process would be unreasonable. For example, the parties of a crime have hit each other but have come to an agreement during mediation and no longer have demands. In some cases, the investigation can be ended if the case is deemed insignificant. Other grounds for restriction are for example disproportionate expenses of continuation or if there is no proof of crime.
5. Trial: If the prosecutor decides to bring charges to the suspect of a crime the case will go to trial. This means that the court will invite the required people to appear before the court where all parties will be heard. More minor cases can be tried in writing where the judge will make a decision based solely on the material of the case. Parties of a criminal case will receive an invite to the trial that will state whether the victim of a crime has to attend the trial.
TIP: If the prosecutor decides not to bring charges in a criminal case you as a plaintiff still have the right to bring charges yourself at your own discretion and that way bring the case before the court. In this case the plaintiff will plead the case at their own responsibility.
The verdict will be announced immediately after the trial or the district court will announce the date on which the verdict will be delivered. The verdict can be appealed to the Court of Appeal. The verdict form the Court of Appeal can further be appealed to Supreme Court.
The length of a criminal process varies depending on the case. The length of the pre-trial investigation is not a hindrance in receiving help and support.
Most finish people are entitled to public legal aid that covers the costs of the attorney in whole or partly. The availability of public legal aid depends on the customers income and expenses.
With some crimes the court may appoint the plaintiff a legal counsel regardless of the plaintiff's income. Such crimes are for example sexual offences, crimes that involve domestic violence and serious offences against life, health and liberty.
Incitement to commit a crime is a crime.
TRUE
Incitement to commit a crime is already a crime. According to the law:
"A person who intentionally persuades another person to commit an intentional offence or to make a punishable attempt at such an offence shall be sentenced for incitement to the offence as if he or she was the perpetrator."
Incitement itself is not a punishable offence but instead it is linked to some other crime.
A crime is always prosecuted.
FALSE
After police have finished the pre-trial investigation, a case moves on to consideration of charges. When the prosecutor has received the Pre-Trial Investigation Record, they decide whether they are going to bring charges meaning whether the case is brought before a court. If for example there is no proof a crime has taken place, the offence is considered minor or the case has been settled outside of court the prosecutor may not bring charges.
I cannot do anything if my underage friend uses alcohol or drugs.
FALSE
According to law a minor cannot use alcohol. The use of drugs is completely banned according to Finnish law with the type of crime being illegal use of a narcotic drug. Both of these acts are therefore considered crimes. Filing a police report is however not the primary thing to do but instead it would be important that your friend receives help. Talk about the situation with a trustable adult or for example with a worker from a help organization and create a plan together how you can help your friend.
I am a minor so I can't fill out a police report.
FALSE
A minor can fill out a police report online if they have online banking details or other accepted certification required for e-Identification. They can also fill out a police report by visiting a police department. Still, a minor should ask for help in filling out a police report for example from Victim Support Finland. If a person is under the age of 18 their legal guardian also has legal standing in their case. You can still fill out a police report independently and police will continue to investigate the case from there.
A police report can't be filled about a person under the age of 15 since they are not criminally responsible.
FALSE
A police report can be filled even if the perpetrator is under the age of 15. Person under the age of 15 doesn't answer for their offence in the court but they have to pay for the damages they have caused.
My phone has been stolen. I can fill out a police report online.
TRUE
In minor offences a police report can be filled out online.
A person under the age of 15 can't get a criminal record.
FALSE
Police reports are filled out also about perpetrators under the age of 15 even if the cases wouldn't lead to further actions by police.
Questioning of a minor without legal counsel is not allowed.
TRUE
A minor has to have legal counsel present in a questioning. Legal guardian also has the right to be present in the questioning even if the minor doesn't want them to. In sensitive crimes it might be more appropriate that a parent wouldn't be present in questioning. These cases are always considered individually.
