Helsinki Police Department - News

Police investigating an attempted murder at Maatulli Comprehensive School

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:55:00 GMT

The authorities arrived at the school within about six minutes. By the time the police arrived, the 15-year-old suspect had left the scene. The 14-year-old victim was given first aid and taken to the hospital. The victim sustained serious injuries but is currently in a stable condition.

The suspect was apprehended about an hour after the emergency call was made. The arrest proceeded without difficulty. No other individuals have been arrested at this time.

According to initial reports, the incident stemmed from a confrontation between the perpetrator and the victim.

Police investigations have revealed that the confrontation began when one pupil punched another. After that, a third pupil got involved and was stabbed by the pupil who had been punched. The pupils in question had been embroiled in a dispute over the preceding week, which had also involved physical violence. The pre-trial investigation will examine the events of the preceding week and the connection between the people involved and today's incident.

Pupils and staff took shelter in classrooms during the incident. The school’s pupils were held in their classrooms until about 11 am while the police carried out investigations.

The school day then ended early. The City of Helsinki provided on-site crisis support to the pupils.

The investigation will proceed with the questioning of the suspect and other investigative measures. As part of the pre-trial investigation, the police are examining the course of events, as well as any prior incidents that may be related to the offence. The incident is being treated as a case of attempted murder and assault. The 15-year-old who was apprehended is suspected of attempted murder, and the pupil who was fighting with the 15-year-old is suspected of assault.

The police will provide updates on the case as the investigation progresses, if necessary.

This incident may give rise to thoughts and concerns. The City of Helsinki’s crisis emergency service is available to Helsinki residents 24 hours a day on 09 310 44222. Other organisations can also provide help; their contact information can be found at: Support for Helsinki residents at a time of crisis | City of Helsinki

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JEF Leaders' Summit in Helsinki – Temporary Traffic Disruptions Expected

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:38:00 GMT

The police are responsible for the security and traffic arrangements in connection with the summit.

The summit and the movement of guests may cause temporary traffic closures and special traffic arrangements in Helsinki city centre. The police will direct traffic as necessary.

A temporary restricted airspace has been established over Helsinki city centre. The restriction is in force on Wednesday, 25 March from 16:00 to 23:00, and on Thursday, 26 March from 08:00 to 23:00.

The restriction applies to both manned and unmanned aviation, including drones. The restricted airspace has been established to ensure the safety of the summit and of official aviation operations. The restriction does not apply to authorities whose statutory duties require them to operate within the area.

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Violence incident at Maatulli School

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:47:00 GMT

At 11.07 a.m. This incident may give you pause for thought. The City of Helsinki’s crisis hotline offers support to Helsinki residents 24 hours a day at 09 310 44222.

Help is also available from other organizations, whose contact information can be found on this website: Support for Helsinki residents at a time of crisis | City of Helsinki

At 10.42 a.m. According to police reports, the incident involved a dispute between two middle school students, and no other students or staff members were targeted.

The investigation still ongoing at the scene. Crisis counseling is being provided to students at Maatulli School in connection with the incident. The school is informing students’ guardians about what happened and how the school day will continue.

At 10.22 a.m. The victim of the crime is also a minor. The victim received first aid at the scene and has been taken for further treatment. The police have apprehended the suspect. The apprehension went smoothly.

At 10.01 a.m. Police has inspected the school premises and confirmed that everyone at the school and daycare center is safe. Staff and authorities are handling further measures on site. The area has been cordoned off for the time being.

The suspect is a minor and is believed to have left the school grounds. There is no longer any danger to those at the school.

At 9.47 a.m. An incident involving a violent crime is underway at Maatulli School. Police are on the school premises investigating the events. According to current information, the crime targeted one person.

We will provide further updates as soon as possible.

This news is no longer being updated.

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Police investigating Malminkartano homicide as murder

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:24:00 GMT

The scene of the crime is Luutnantintie, near Malminkartano railway station. The victim, a man born in the 1940s, died as a result of the stabbing.

"The police are investigating the act as murder. The pre-trial investigation has revealed that the act was carried out in a particularly brutal and cruel manner. In addition to violence committed with an edged weapon, significant further violence was directed at the victim. Based on current information, the victim and the suspect were not previously known to each other," says the investigator in charge, Detective Chief Inspector Jari Korkalainen.

The suspect, a man born in the 1990s, is currently detained. The police will be applying for a detention order.

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Police suspect homicide in Malminkartano in Helsinki

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:23:00 GMT

The victim was a man born in the 1940s. He died at the scene despite resuscitation attempts.

Police apprehended the suspect shortly after the incident. The suspect is a man born in the 1990s. The apprehension took place without resistance.

Police are investigating the matter as manslaughter. The charges may change as the investigation progresses.

Police will provide further information on the incident tomorrow.

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Police Band meets more than 30,000 kids and teens every year

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:04:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The police will be involved in several events around the city to celebrate the anniversary. This Friday, the Helsinki Police Department and the children’s ensemble of the Helsinki Police Band, Nallekopla (‘teddy bear gang’), will participate in an Eid al-Fitr event at the Itis shopping centre. The event is for the whole family and has free admission.

Nallekopla will entertain visitors from 14.00 to 14.30 and from 15.00 to 15.30, and the friendly police info desk will be open from 14.00 to 17.00. The police lion will also make an appearance between musical performances.

“Events like these are important opportunities for us to meet with children and families and build trust in the police. It is essential for children to see at an early age that in Finland the police are trustworthy and easy to approach. You can always go to the police for help," says Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen.

The Helsinki Police Band has been an integral part of the Police Department since 1947. In addition to its traditional concerts, the Police Band engages in important educational work among kids and teens in various formations. Positive interactions through music help foster trust in the police in childhood. This forms part of the preventive police work of the Helsinki Police Department.

School concerts given by the Helsinki Police Band have a combined audience of more than 30,000 kids and teens every year, from daycare to middle school. The goal with these is to engage children and adolescents in their day-to-day environment, to offer them musical experiences and to reinforce the image of the police as safe and approachable authority figures.

Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. In Finland this year, it falls on 19–20 March.

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Two 15-year-olds suspected of attempted murder ordered by another party

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Based on the pre-trial investigation, the police suspect that a drug debt led to reprisals in a case of arson and attempted murder.

The crimes under investigation include attempted murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated criminal mischief, an aggravated narcotics offence, and aggravated violation of domestic privacy.

Three suspects, who were 15 years old at the time of the incident, remain in custody. Two of them are suspected of attempted murder and aggravated criminal mischief. All three are also suspected of aggravated narcotics offences.

The young age of the suspects and the seriousness of the crimes are exceptional in pre-trial investigations into organised crime in Finland.

Several suspects have connections to street gangs in Northern Helsinki, and the crimes are considered to have been committed, at least to some extent, as part of an organised criminal group.

Drug debts being collected

Since December 2025, the Helsinki Police Department has been investigating a series of crimes involving large-scale drug dealing and acts of revenge motivated by drug-related debts.

The pre-trial investigation indicates that the incidents arose in the wake of a failed drug deal in December. This gave rise to a debt and sparked a chain of events that led to arson and attempted murder.

Shortly after the drug deal, three men went to an apartment in Helsinki, looking for the person who owed money for the drug deal. The only people there were bystanders: a couple with a young child. The debtor was not present. The people in the apartment were threatened with violence if they failed to reveal the debtor’s whereabouts. At least one suspect had a weapon, and these suspects threatened to blow up the apartment. Eventually, the suspects absconded with a passport and a mobile phone belonging to the injured party.

The incident is being investigated as an aggravated robbery, and the suspects remain in custody.

Debt collection escalated into aggravated criminal mischief and attempted murder

A few days later, on 17 December 2025, a fire was deliberately set in the stairwell of an apartment building in Korso, Vantaa.

The fire spread very quickly and posed an immediate threat to the lives of all the residents in the stairwell. The stairwell was the building’s only exit route, so the rescue services had to evacuate several people through windows. The entire stairwell was engulfed in life-threatening combustion fumes and flames. The most intense area of fire was in front of the target apartment, and it posed a real risk of spreading into the apartment.

“The pre-trial investigation indicated that the arson deliberately targeted the home of a close relative of a previously sought debtor and the stairwell connected to it. Fortunately, the fire brigade arrived quickly and brought the fire under control. It was only by luck that serious personal injury was avoided,” says Detective Chief Inspector Markku Juurikkamäki of the Helsinki Police Department, who is the head investigator.

The pre-trial investigation revealed that the arson had been planned in a highly systematic way and that various preparations had been made. Among other things, the adults who planned the crime bought a mobile phone with a subscription specifically for the crime. The phone and subscription were given to two 15-year-old suspects, who were instructed to use the phone to commit arson at the address in question. One of them is suspected of starting the fire using a flammable liquid directed at the target apartment in accordance with the instructions he had received.

A total of four people are suspected of aggravated criminal mischief and attempted murder, and they are all in custody. According to the pre-trial investigation, one of them had visited the scene a few days earlier, searching for a drug debtor.

Three 15-year-olds suspected of large-scale drug dealing

During the investigation, the police discovered that the 15-year-old suspects had also been involved in large-scale drug dealing.

One of the suspects was arrested during a drug deal. He had managed to hand over three kilograms of amphetamines to another person. A working firearm and approximately €7,000 in cash were seized from the 15-year-old suspect at the time of his arrest.

In addition, the police discovered an apartment in a nearby building where the three 15-year-olds had stored and distributed drugs. All of them are suspected of involvement in the handling and distribution of significant quantities of narcotics. Approximately 15 kilograms of amphetamines and over €10,000 in cash were seized from the apartment.

Based on preliminary investigations, the drug dealing and related acts of revenge were orchestrated from abroad. Several people have been involved in their implementation and preparation.

Several adults were involved in the incidents in Finland in addition to the three 15-year-old suspects. The pre-trial investigation is now complete and focuses on ten suspects, seven of whom remain in custody.

The suspects are citizens of Finland, Somalia, Kosovo, and Iraq. One holds dual citizenship in Finland and Somalia, and another in Finland and Kosovo.

“The police were able to track down the suspects fairly soon after the fire on 17 December 2025. The investigation quickly linked the motive to a previous aggravated robbery. The identities of the suspects were gradually uncovered through the police’s own intelligence gathering and various pre-trial investigation measures. Suspects were apprehended at several different stages of the pre-trial investigation,” says Detective Chief Inspector Markku Juurikkamäki, the head investigator.

Crime as a Service is also a reality in Finland

Crime as a Service, a phenomenon linked to organised crime in Sweden, has become an aspect of Finnish criminality.

Over the past year, the Helsinki Police Department has investigated serious crimes where members of Swedish organised crime groups have recruited individuals from Sweden to commit violence in Finland.

This model is used in Sweden, where serious crimes are committed by minors who been taken into care outside their families. They have reduced criminal liability or no liability at all. This makes them an appealing target for exploitation by organised crime groups. Based on the cases reported to the Helsinki Police Department, this model has also become a reality in Finland.

“The exploitation of minors and vulnerable young people for criminal purposes is a despicable and highly concerning practice. Similarly, targeting family members or bystanders with violence demonstrates the lack of morality among organised criminals,” says Senior Detective Superintendent Kimmo Sainio of the Helsinki Police Department.

Crime as a Service poses ever-greater challenges for authorities and underlines the importance of cooperation and information sharing among them. This phenomenon will put young people who have fallen into a spiral of crime and other vulnerable young people at real risk in the future.

It also raises the danger to the lives and health of outsiders if reprisals target bystanders or if weapons or explosives are used in violent offences.

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Police officers fallen in the line of duty honoured with flags flying at half-mast

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

On 7 March every year International Day of Remembrance for Fallen Officers is organised by Interpol to honour the courage and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. Since the International Day of Remembrance falls on a Saturday this year, the Police of Finland will fly the flags at half-mast and observe one minute’s silence already on Friday 6 March.

Global Blue Chain

In the Interpol campaign ‘Global Blue Chain’, national buildings and landmarks all over the world will be illuminated in blue.

Police University College will participate by lighting the campus main building in Hervanta in blue between 6 and 7 March 2026.

Finnish officers fallen in the line of duty – an online exhibition

Finnish police fatalities are displayed in the online exhibition ‘In Memoriam – Police killed in the line of duty’ of the Police Museum. The exhibition includes a database of 164 police fatalities, in which a police officer has fallen due to violence or accident. In Finland two officers have lost their lives due to violence in the line of duty in the 21st century.

The Police Museum in Tampere will organise a guided tour free of charge following the online exhibition theme on 7 March. The guided tour is in Finnish. More information on the guidance and exhibition is available on the web pages of the Police Museum.

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An elderly man is suspected of having lived in the basement of a detached house for years under inhumane conditions

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:06:00 GMT

In the basement of the house, the police discovered an approximately 80-year-old man in poor physical condition and in need of immediate assistance. The living space the man had been using was a windowless room, lacking access to bathing facilities, a toilet, or the ability to prepare food. According to information gathered during the preliminary investigation, the man had moved into the space several decades ago. The man, who had been living in the basement, is now under the care of the appropriate authorities.

The Helsinki Police Department continue their investigation to determine whether other individuals living in the same house have committed human trafficking, exploiting the man’s dependent situation and placing him in degrading conditions, potentially for financial gain.

In connection with the criminal suspicion, the police have detained two men and one woman. The suspects are approximately 60 years old and residents of Helsinki.

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Police uncover a large drug smuggling and distribution organisation in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:37:00 GMT

A Swedish organisation is suspected of importing hundreds of kilos of narcotics into Finland, and these narcotics have been distributed onwards by street gangs, among others.

The organisation brought more than 300 kilos of drugs into Finland in 2025

In 2025, people coming from Sweden are suspected of having supplied large quantities of various drugs out of apartments in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Based on international cooperation and investigations by the police, the investigation team identified several individuals who were mainly linked to a Swedish criminal organisation and who received and distributed very large quantities of narcotics in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

During the pre-trial investigation, the police seized 220 kilos of amphetamines, around 50 kilos of cocaine, almost 400,000 pharmaceutical items classified as narcotics, and firearms from the apartments used by the suspects.

“The pre-trial investigation indicated that the case is linked to international drug crime led from abroad, with individuals connected to Finnish street gangs also involved in various roles. The pre-trial investigation was carried out in cooperation with the Swedish police in particular, and as the investigation progressed, the Norwegian police were also involved. Effective national and international cooperation has played a crucial role in solving the case," says Senior Detective Superintendent Masi Puolakka, the head investigator.

The total number of suspects is around 30, of whom 13 are currently still in custody. Aggravated narcotics offences and firearms offences are suspected. All the suspects are of legal age. Swedish nationals and Somali nationals living in Finland are prominent among the suspects.

Shooting at Puustellinmäki on Christmas Eve 2024 spurred an investigation into aggravated narcotics offences

Alongside the investigation into the import of drugs, the task force for street gang crime has investigated the distribution of drugs by street gangs, where the drugs were obtained from the above-mentioned organisation.

The investigation started after a shooting in Puustellinmäki, Espoo, on Christmas Eve 2024. During this pre-trial investigation, the team learned that the suspects in the shooting case were also suspected of receiving and distributing drugs obtained from a Swedish organisation.

In addition, cooperation has been carried out with Eastern Uusimaa Police Department who has detained one person connected to the case. In total, the police suspect that dozens of kilos of various drugs were acquired and sold in 2024 and 2025.

“Based on the pre-trial investigation, the street gang members are suspected to have purchased narcotics from the Swedes in batches of one or two kilos and moved them on quickly,” says Senior Detective Superintendent Marko Forss of the Helsinki Police Department.

The street gang is suspected of having stored drugs, firearms, and money, mainly in short-term rented apartments in various parts of the Helsinki metropolitan area. Using such apartments to store illegal goods is today more the rule than the exception.

Nine people linked to the street gang have been arrested in connection with the case, seven of whom are still in custody. About a kilo of cocaine, smaller quantities of other drugs, three handguns, and about €70,000 in cash were seized during the pre-trial investigation into the street gang.

The cases will soon be submitted for the consideration of charges.

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Keeping the capital safe for 200 years – Helsinki Police Department responds to the constantly changing operating environment

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Helsinki Police Department celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Established in 1826, the police force was tasked with maintaining order in the growing city, protecting people from crime and upholding social peace. Although today's environment is completely different, the police still have the same core mission: to keep people safe, protect the city, and act as a safeguard under all circumstances.

Last year saw significant changes in the Helsinki police’s operating environment. The numbers of police missions and crime reports increased, but the police also improved their performance, response times, and rates of crimes solved. One particular concern was the sharp increase in drug use, particularly of alpha-PVP, and the resulting disorder, criminality, and serious health problems.

More call-outs, record preparedness

Last year, the Helsinki Police Department received a total of 162,099 call-outs, almost 20,000 more than the year before. The number category A missions – the most important category – increased by 13.3%. Despite the heavier workload, the Helsinki police's average response time for category A call-outs was better than ever before, at 4.8 minutes.

Last year, 93 295 crimes were reported to the Helsinki police. The number of crimes rose by 12,4% from 2024. Despite this growth, investigation times were reduced, and the rate of crimes solved increased.

“Just over a year ago, we made major organisational changes within the Helsinki Police Department. Now, looking at the results for the past year as a whole, it seems our decisions were the right ones, and we have met, or even surpassed, the targets we set ourselves. The operating environment is changing rapidly, and we need to develop continuously in order to meet ever-changing needs," says Police Commissioner Jari Liukku, Police Chief at the Helsinki Police Department.

Drug offences continue to rise

The number of drug users and the volume of drugs consumed in Finland are rising sharply. The number of drug-related offences reported to the Helsinki police increased by almost 10% last year, and the number of aggravated narcotics offences climbed by over 15%.

A growing demand for drugs is fuelling transnational organised crime linked to their production, importation, and distribution. The street drug trade and the use of drugs cause disorder, which often manifests itself in violence, property offences, and other criminality. In particular, the sharp increase in alpha-PVP use is reflected in more unpredictable and aggressive behaviour.

“The key to overall safety is to stem the continuous rise in the number of drug users, especially among younger age groups. The Helsinki police work closely with other authorities, the city, and various stakeholders to prevent the use and sale of drugs and the safety hazards they cause to citizens," Liukku emphasises.

The share of foreigners in the street and online drug trade has increased. In response, the Helsinki police have stepped up the rate of crime-based deportations and will continue to do so. The number of deportations related to combating immediate threats to public order and security has also increased. Last year, the Helsinki police deported 962 people, which was 331 more than the year before.

“Deportations are an integral part of maintaining public order and security,” says Chief Inspector Simo Kauppinen.

Visible surveillance and police presence are essential

One major focus of the Helsinki Police Department over the past year has been increasing the amount of visible surveillance and police presence at trouble spots. This is one concrete measure the police have taken in response to the disturbances caused by the growing drug problem. Surveillance has been carried out in wide-ranging cooperation with stakeholders, and the police have adopted an information-driven approach based on their own analysis and feedback from stakeholders and residents. There has also been an increase in camera surveillance at hotspots and the introduction of a mobile surveillance trailer, which has received a lot of positive feedback.

Last year, the Helsinki police carried out 76.9% more public-order tasks on their own initiative than in the previous year. In addition, the number of foot patrols almost doubled compared to 2024.

“Making citizens feel safe and secure is the police's most important task. This year, the police department will step up its information-led policing to combat drug trafficking, serious criminality, and offences and disturbances that compromise public order and safety,” says Police Chief Jari Liukku.

The national school police model was launched a year ago as a preventive measure targeted at young people. It has since become an established aspect of policing. This means that police officers from the surveillance unit will continue to actively visit Helsinki’s schools and nearby areas and engage in dialogue with children and young people. The police also support schools in problem-solving situations. The school police activities also include online lessons from the national Koulu25 team and a strong social media presence among Koulu25 officers.

One of the main priorities is to combat crime by juveniles and street gangs

In the capital region, there have been observations of youth gangs formed by minors. These gangs are stigmatized in different areas and move around the capital region. Some of the young people belonging to these groups cause disturbances and commit crimes together. A relatively small group of the most challenging young people are responsible for the majority of serious youth crimes, such as robberies and assaults. Police departments in the capital region are currently mapping the exact number of the most challenging youngsters.

In many areas around the capital region, there are street gangs consisting of young adults who are actively involved in drug dealing and violence. Street gangs and their members change rapidly, and some of the gangs that were active a few years ago may no longer exist, having been replaced by new ones.

– Youth and gang crime in the capital region is changing rapidly. The current situation involves groups of minors committing crimes, street gangs formed by young adults and organized crime led from Sweden that supplies drugs to street gangs. The role of a juvenile offender can quickly change to that of a professional criminal. Preventing this requires swift and strict measures from the authorities, says Detective Chief Superintendent Markku Heinikari.

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Fitburg Vessel to move to international waters under Border Guard's control

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:21:00 GMT

The operation led by the Helsinki Police will end once the Fitburg vessel has left Kantvik harbour. After that the authorities will continue their normal duties and release information about their respective areas of responsibility themselves.

– The Finnish and Estonian police have completed their work on board the vessel, and the seizure can therefore be lifted. Yesterday, Sunday, January 11, the Helsinki District Court remanded a crew member of a ship named Fitburg in custody pending retrial. Some of the ship's crew remain under a travel ban, says Tactical Leader of the investigation, Risto Lohi, from the National Bureau of Investigation.

The Border Guard monitored the departure of the Fitburg from Finnish territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.

The Border Guard took immediate action to investigate possible damage to critical infrastructure. The Finnish Coast Guard patrol vessel Turva assisted the National Bureau of Investigation with underwater investigations in the Gulf of Finland and mapped the anchor drag trail over a distance of several tens of kilometers.

Other key actors during the operation include Finnish Customs and the Finnish Transport and Communications Services (Traficom). Customs carried out sanctions-related monitoring by inspecting the ship's cargo and conducted a preliminary investigation into the suspected sanctions violation. Traficom carried out a port state control inspection of the vessel outside the normal inspection interval on the basis of suspicions related to damage to a submarine cable.

– The Finnish authorities took swift action and prevented any further damage from occurring in the Gulf of Finland. Authorities have the capacity to respond to cable damage and other similar situations and work together seamlessly, says Police Chief Jari Liukku of the Helsinki Police Department.

The Fitburg vessel is suspected of causing damage to Elisa's submarine cable on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025. The damage occurred in Estonia's exclusive economic zone.

The National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a preliminary investigation into the matter in cooperation with the Estonian National Police. In Finland, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Criminal offences may change as the investigation progresses.

The Finnish authorities took control of the ship in a joint operation and prevented further damage. The Border Guard and the Defence Forces have provided significant assistance to the police at sea and in the air throughout the operation.

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Helsinki Police Department warns children and their parents about dangerous social media challenges

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:03:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department considers participation in dangerous challenges an alarming trend. Engaging in these challenges can be extremely dangerous for children and young people.

Children and young people should not engage in dangerous challenges, nor should they encourage others to do so. Parents have a responsibility to address this issue with their minor children.

The Helsinki Police Department does not provide address-specific information regarding emergency calls.

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The Fitburg Vessel Seized by the National Bureau of Investigation

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:35:00 GMT

The decision to seize the vessel was made to secure the measures necessary for the criminal investigation. The seizure took place today, 7 January, at 08:00 AM. For the purposes of the investigation, forensic examinations are being conducted on the vessel, and the crew members are being interviewed, making the seizure essential at this stage.

Prior to this, the vessel’s cargo, consisting of steel products, was under administrative detention by Customs while it carried out a preliminary inquiry into whether the crew should be suspected of committing an aggravated sanction offence. For more information, please refer to the Customs press release.

At this stage, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. One crew member has been placed in pre-trial detention, and a travel ban has been imposed on three other individuals.
The Fitburg vessel is suspected of, among other things, damaging a subsea telecommunications cable owned by Elisa in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel was stopped and instructed to move to Finnish territorial waters to clarify the situation. Finnish and Estonian authorities have established a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for the criminal investigation.

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Criminal Investigation into the Fitburg Vessel to Continue for Weeks

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:52:00 GMT

The police continue the investigation into the damage caused to Elisa’s telecommunications cable, using forensic and tactical methods as usual. At this stage, the gathering and analysis of information is still ongoing. Information has been collected from various sources, including other authorities, the cable damage site, the Fitburg cargo vessel, and the crew members' communication devices.

It has been just under a week since the cable was damaged, and the investigation is progressing step by step. The investigation will continue in the usual manner, and the police will provide updates once more certain information about the course of events is available.

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Maritime Investigations in the Gulf of Finland Continue

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The National Bureau of Investigation has been working closely with other authorities to advance the criminal investigation. Today, on 04 January, the Helsinki District Court ordered a crew member of the vessel Fitburg to be placed in pre-trial detention. At this stage, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. The interviews of the crew members are progressing as planned.

─ The technical and tactical investigation of the case is progressing with the involvement of several authorities. At the core of the investigation is the assessment of intent and the information influencing it. There have been incidents in the Gulf of Finland in recent years, and this case proves that both national and international cooperation between authorities functions seamlessly, says Tactical Leader of investigation Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Maritime Investigations Conducted in Cooperation with Estonian Authorities

The police, supported by the Border Guard and the Defence Forces, have conducted maritime investigations. Estonian authorities have participated in the investigative efforts on site. The Joint Investigation Team will continue the investigations throughout the weekend.

Subsea examinations have focused on, among other things, drag marks found on the seabed, which appear to align with the vessel's route. Based on the examinations conducted so far, there is reason to suspect that the anchor and anchor chain of the Fitburg vessel have dragged along the seabed for at least several tens of kilometres before reaching the point of damage to the telecommunications cable owned by Elisa.

To ensure the continuation of the investigative actions, the joint operation of the authorities will proceed. The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation, supported by the Border Guard. The National Bureau of Investigation is responsible for the criminal investigation into the case.

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The Police Request that a Crew Member of the Fitburg Cargo Vessel Be Subjected to Pre-Trial Detention

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 12:04:00 GMT

A travel ban has been imposed on one the two crew members of the Fitburg vessel who had previously been arrested. The crew member in question is a Russian national. The vessel has a total of 14 crew members on board, and currently, a travel ban has been imposed on three of them.

The other crew member previously arrested is a national of Azerbaijan, and the police will request his pre-trial detention today, 03 January. For the purposes relating to the criminal investigation, it is not possible to provide further details regarding their rank. In the course of the investigation, the leaders of the investigation continually assess the necessity, sufficiency, and comprehensiveness of the coercive measures taken.

The analysis of the material collected from the vessel is expected to take several weeks. Investigative actions on board the vessel continue.

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Police Have Interviewed Crew Members of the Fitburg Vessel

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:39:00 GMT

The police have made progress in the criminal investigative actions concerning the damage to the telecommunications cable owned by Elisa. The damage to the cable is suspected to have been caused by a vessel named Fitburg, which has a crew of 14 members on board. The police have arrested two individuals and two other persons have been subjected to a travel ban. They were interviewed on Thursday, and the interviews continue on Friday, 02 January.

- The interviews have clarified the course of events and the different roles of the crew members, says the Tactical Leader, Detective Chief Superintendent Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Criminal offences may change as the investigation progresses.

The National Bureau of Investigation has setup a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Estonia. The Joint Investigation Team enables seamless cooperation with the Estonian authorities.

The police have continued the crime scene investigation on the seabed near the damaged cable, in cooperation with other authorities. The Border Guard’s patrol vessel Turva is leading the operational activities of the subsea crime scene investigation in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation. The investigation makes use of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard's diverse underwater equipment, including submersible robots, side-scan sonar, and multi-beam echo sounders The Defence Forces are also providing assistance in the investigation of the cable damage.

Port State Control Inspection of the Vessel by Traficom Completed

The actions conducted aboard the vessel as part of the port state control inspection initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) on Wednesday, 31 December, were completed on 01 January 2026. The inspection ensured that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions.

- The vessel is in normal condition for its age. During the inspection, we tested equipment and assessed the condition and compliance of the vessel's spaces, equipment, supplies, and systems. We also monitored the safety drill conducted by the vessel's crew," says Sanna Sonninen, Maritime Director at Traficom.

The number of deficiencies observed is typical for the vessel’s age, and the deficiencies are of a minor nature No deficiencies were found that would jeopardise safety. The report on the results of the port state control inspection will be completed next week.

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Investigation Related to Vessel Fitburg Continues

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:58:00 GMT

The vessel Fitburg, suspected of being involved in the cable damage incident in the Gulf of Finland, was escorted by authorities to Kantvik harbour on 31 December at approximately 17:00.

Responsibility for the criminal investigation has been transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation, and at this stage, the incident is being investigated on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

– Investigative actions have been carried out on the vessel, including the collection of material, and analysis has begun. The examination of the anchor on the ship has also started, and any potential damages are being investigated. Crew member questioning was initiated immediately on Wednesday evening, and formal interviews will begin today, Thursday, says the Tactical Leader, Senior Detective Inspector Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The police have arrested two individuals and two other persons have been subjected to a travel ban. At this stage of the investigation, it is not possible to provide further details regarding their nationalities or their ranks.

The police continue to take necessary investigative measures on board the vessel. The investigative actions on the vessel have proceeded smoothly in close cooperation with the crew on board.

The authorities have also initiated a subsea crime scene investigation in the area surrounding the damaged cable. The Border Guard and the Defence Forces are providing support to the police investigation.

No-Fly Zone Is in Place in the Area

A temporary no-fly zone has been put in place over Kantvik harbour. The current no-fly zones should always be checked on the website www.Flyk.com.

The authorities have temporarily restricted access to the area for outsiders in order to secure the enforcement of official measures, until the necessary actions have been completed.

Port State Control Inspection of the Vessel by Traficom Underway

The Port State Control inspection of the vessel, initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom on Wednesday, is continuing today, Thursday. The inspection will ensure that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions.

– The vessel's inspection is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the police investigation, and the inspection has progressed in good cooperation with the crew. We are satisfied with the progress of the inspection, says Sanna Sonninen, Director of Maritime Affairs at Traficom.

Traficom will provide information on the results of the inspection later, once the inspection has been completed.

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Cargo Vessel Fitburg has been moved to a Safe Place

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:01:00 GMT

In the field operation led by the Helsinki Police Department, helicopters from the Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces were deployed. The police rapid response unit Karhu and the Border Guard's tactical team fast-roped down to the vessel's deck from helicopters. The vessel has been taken into custody in a law enforcement cooperation operation led by the police.

─ This maritime operation once again demonstrated the police and other authorities' excellent readiness to provide a timely response and work seamlessly together within their respective areas of responsibility, says National Police Commisioner Ilkka Koskimäki.

The vessel in question is the cargo ship Fitburg, sailing under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with 14 crew members on board. They are nationals of Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

─ In addition to launching this strong inter-agency cooperation process, we immediately dispatched a Border Guard helicopter and the patrol vessel Turva to sea and began locating potential suspects who could have caused the damage in the maritime area," says Commander Mikko Simola of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard.

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation and conducting criminal investigation in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation.

The police have been in contact with the National Prosecutor's Office, and the Prosecutor General has issued a prosecution order in the case. At this stage, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

Intensive international cooperation and information sharing are being conducted with the Estonian authorities, in particular to resolve the case.

The police are investigating the incident in cooperation with several national and international authorities, and further information will be provided as soon as possible.

Traficom will Initiate a Port State Control Inspection on the Vessel

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will commence a port state control inspection on the vessel today, 31 December. The inspection will ensure that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions. The vessel inspection is a standard procedure for authorities.

─ The inspection will be conducted in a way that does not disrupt the police operation or investigation, says Sanna Sonninen, Director of Maritime Affairs at Traficom.

Customs will carry out an inspection of the Fitburg vessel to check for any goods that may violate sanctions or regulations.

─ Customs will assess the conditions for the vessel's cargo import and, if necessary, initiate a preliminary investigation based on its findings, says Sami Rakshit, Director General of Customs.

Traficom: Telecommunications Connections from Finland Are Functioning Normally

The severing of submarine cables has not affected the functionality of Finland's communication services.

Finland's telecommunications connections to the world and within the country are secured and supported through multiple means. Internet usage is not dependent on a single cable. If disruptions occur in one connection, internet traffic is automatically rerouted to backup connections.

Various sectors of society have prepared for situations like cable damage, and regular drills are conducted. Connections can be disrupted for various reasons, such as equipment failures or natural phenomena. Preparedness and close cooperation between different sectors of society are long-standing and standard procedures in Finland.

Update 20:50: At the time of publication, the ship had already been moved to a safe location.

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Police Investigate Cable Damage in the Gulf of Finland in Cooperation with Other Authorities

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Telecommunications provider Elisa detected a fault in the company’s telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn early in the morning on 31 December 2025. Elisa reported the issue to the Border Guard's Operations Centre. Under the leadership of the Border Guard, an immediate investigation was initiated into the damage to the underwater critical infrastructure.

The Border Guard located a vessel suspected of being responsible for the damage to the cable. The damage site reported by Elisa was within Estonia's exclusive economic zone. The Border Guard's patrol vessel Turva and helicopter found the suspected vessel within Finland's exclusive economic zone. The vessel's anchor chain was found to be lowered into the sea. The Border Guard instructed the vessel to stop and raise the anchor. The Border Guard also requested that the vessel move to a safe anchorage within Finnish territorial waters.

Finnish authorities have taken control of the vessel as part of a joint operation. Responsibility for leading the investigation has been transferred from the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard to the Helsinki Police Department.
The police have been in contact with the National Prosecutor's Office, and the Prosecutor General has issued a prosecution order. At this stage, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

The police are investigating the incident in cooperation with several national and international authorities, and further information will be provided as soon as possible.

The operation involves, in addition to the police and the Border Guard, the Finnish Defence Forces, Customs, Traficom, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), and Finngrid.

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Helsinki Police is maintaining public order and safety in Helsinki on New Year’s Eve

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:10:00 GMT

Helsinki Police Department is maintaining public order and safety in Helsinki city centre on 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026.

The police will focus on Helsinki New Year celebrations at Kansalaistori and enforcing the ban on fireworks.

In general, lighting fireworks is allowed from 6 p.m. on 31 December until 2 a.m. on 1 January.

The police remind everyone to use fireworks responsibly. The police also make a particular appeal to parents.

Giving fireworks to minors is not allowed. An adult is always responsible for their fireworks. Any fireworks and explosives possessed by minors will always be confiscated. It is now mandatory to use safety goggles when lighting fireworks.

In addition, the police remind everyone that alcohol can be possessed and consumed only by people over the age of 18. Parents are responsible for making sure their children and young people celebrate the New Year safely.

One major focus of surveillance is to combat substance abuse problems and crime against children and young people, as well as crimes committed by young people.

"Parents are responsible for ensuring that children and young people celebrate safely. The police encourage people to report disturbances and crimes targeting young people in particular to the emergency number, as these do not always come to the attention of the police", reminds Chief Inspector Harri Kopra.

Additional information:

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Police forces in the Helsinki metropolitan area work closely together to improve the security situation

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:00:00 GMT

The numbers of police call-outs and crimes in the Helsinki metropolitan area have clearly increased over the past year. The increased use of drugs is reflected in a significant increase in disorder. The number of police assignments rose by 14% in Helsinki and Eastern Uusimaa and by 6% in Western Uusimaa compared to the same period last year.

“The three large cities form a fairly coherent area in terms of their operating environment. The same phenomena occur across the municipal boundaries and affect us all. Demand for police services has increased across every police unit, including call-outs, surveillance, criminal investigations and licensing services. We have worked together operationally on a broad front, and the importance of cooperation will only increase in the future. Flexible and effective cooperation is one of our strengths, and it guarantees a safe urban environment for residents," say Police Chiefs Jari Liukku of the Helsinki Police Department, Marko Viitanen of the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, and Timo Saarinen of the Western Uusimaa Police Department.

According to the Helsinki safety survey published in the summer, many people feel unsafe, for example, on weekend nights in the city centre and in the evenings on commuter trains and the metro. There is a strong connection between a perceived lack of safety on weekend evenings and witnessing violence and drugs in the local area. Increases in the use of drugs and the disorder caused by drug use are a common challenge for the whole metropolitan area.

The mayors of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa met with the chiefs of police in August to launch a collaborative effort across the region to tackle the drug situation. The police departments have responded to the situation by ramping up the numbers of visible patrols and missions on police initiative. The number of foot patrols has doubled in Helsinki and almost tripled in Western Uusimaa since last year. The number has increased by 40% in Eastern Uusimaa.

Joint surveillance on December weekends

On weekends in December, the police departments will conduct joint surveillance focusing on shopping centres and public transport in Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo, as well as public transport stations with particularly visible issues of substance abuse. Most disturbances occur along the railway line.

One major focus of joint surveillance is to combat substance abuse problems and crime against children and young people, as well as crimes committed by young people. Stakeholders will be closely involved in this surveillance. Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen, who heads surveillance activities at the Helsinki Police Department, says the cooperation will strengthen joint situational awareness among the police departments.

“With the three police departments working more closely together, we will be able to target surveillance activities and allocate police resources precisely where there is heightened perception of disorder and lack of safety. Visible foot patrols are a key tool. Surveillance will target areas where there are many young people," says Kiiskinen.

Video surveillance also has a role to play. Visible surveillance activities aim to increase citizens’ sense of safety and security in public areas.

“Passengers do appreciate the fact that safety is a priority in public transport. The presence of police and security guards enhances the feeling of security,” says Juhana Hietaranta, Head of Safety and Security at Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd.

Difficulties at shopping centres – substance abusers in worse shape than before

Shoplifting has become more commonplace across the entire Helsinki metropolitan area compared to last year, but the increase has been particularly sharp in Helsinki. By the end of November, the Helsinki Police Department had recorded 53% more petty thefts than in the same period last year (19,493 petty thefts in total, up by 6,780 from last year). In Eastern and Western Uusimaa, the increases have been 11% and 12% respectively.

Päivi Salonen, CEO of the Mall of Tripla, says the change has been dramatic over the past couple of years.

“There has been a worrying increase in the number of shoplifting and substance-abuse incidents across the retail sector and we are monitoring the situation closely. We have already taken steps to improve security and to work more closely with the authorities. The number of substance abusers may not have risen, but they are now in poorer health and behave more erratically. Various problems have piled up, and the range of means available to address the situation should be broad and based on cooperation between different parties,” Salonen says.

“In Helsinki, there is a group of about 50 shoplifters with a high crime rate. The cases of these perpetrators are bundled together, and charges are considered as a whole. This leads to a harsher punishment than for individual cases. About 10 members of the group can be considered highly prolific offenders. An agreement has been reached with the prosecutor to treat their offences as thefts,” says Senior Detective Superintendent Jari Illukka of the Helsinki Police Department.

A business restraining order would be one way to protect businesses and their staff from future disruptions. The government is expected to propose such a measure during 2026.

Young people need safe adults around them

There have now been two weekends of intensified joint surveillance. It has been carried out especially in places frequented by young people. The places where young people meet vary, but in winter they mainly gather in the shopping centres near the railway. Young people have praised the presence of the police.

“The message from young people is that they appreciate having safe adults around. During these initial weekends of surveillance, several situations could have escalated if we or the youth workers had not been there," says Kiiskinen.

The number of crimes committed by underage youths in Eastern Uusimaa is decreasing. In West Uusimaa, the number of robberies committed by minors has decreased, but assaults and crimes against life and health have increased.

The Helsinki police reported in August that the number of crimes committed by under-18s had decreased compared to last year, and the trend was particularly positive for robberies. The police, together with the City of Helsinki and the third sector, had succeeded in breaking the criminal cycle of young people.

“Now, the statistics for Helsinki have turned less favourable. After schools restarted in August, robberies and assaults by youth gangs, mainly composed of young people with an immigrant background, began in areas such as Alppipuisto and Malmi. A single victim could be attacked by up to ten people, and some of the attacks involved humiliation and video recordings. The investigations include aggravated robberies and aggravated assaults. The criminal case has about 40 suspects, mostly aged between 14 and 18,” says Detective Chief Superintendent Markku Heinikari at the Helsinki Police Department.

Drugs are also a daily occurrence in traffic

The Helsinki metropolitan area’s police departments also work closely on traffic enforcement. This is part of the basic work of every police officer in the field. The main risk factors in road accidents resulting in death or serious injury are speeding and substance abuse.

In the past year, the police have significantly increased the number of breathalyser and drug-screening tests throughout the Helsinki metropolitan area.

“This year, we will conduct breath tests on more than 200,000 drivers. This is 41% more than last year, says Chief Inspector Aapo Isoaho of Western Uusimaa police.

Enforcement work in which the police monitor people’s driving capabilities holistically has paid off. The number of offences of driving while intoxicated has increased by around 8%. Narcotics are now involved in a larger share of incidents of driving while intoxicated, and already half of such offences are caused by substances other than alcohol. Amphetamines are still the most important substances in cases of people driving while under the influence of narcotics, although cocaine and the increased use of alpha-PVP are also evident, especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

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Eastern Flank Summit will cause exceptions to traffic arrangements in Helsinki

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:30:00 GMT

The Police are responsible for the safety and security of the Summit and the related traffic arrangements.

The Summit may require temporary traffic arrangements and short traffic delays mostly in Helsinki. The Police will ensure the safety of the Summit and direct traffic if necessary.

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Police Suspect Homicide in Konala

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:55:00 GMT

Upon arrival, officers found a man in the apartment who later died from his injuries. Another man, also injured, was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Following a brief pursuit, several individuals were apprehended. At this stage of the preliminary investigation, they are suspected of being involved in the incident.

"The police are investigating the case as a homicide and attempted homicide involving a firearm. Further information regarding the case will be released as soon as it is deemed appropriate", says Detective Chief Inspector Tuomas Lindholm, who is leading the inquiry.

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Independence Day parade routes in Helsinki

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:03:00 GMT

The police have been notified of several different demonstrations and events.

Preliminary route information for demonstrations and other event processions notified to the police in advance, as well as the times of departure reported by the organizers:

March for Finland starting at 12:00 a.m.: the Parliament Building – Arkadiankatu (along sidewalks) – Hietaniemi Cemetery.
Catholic procession starting at 12:00 a.m.: from St Mary’s Church to St Henry’s Cathedral
Fixit movement demonstration starting at 13:30 p.m.: Senate Square – Aleksanterinkatu – Mannerheimintie - the Parliament Building
Finland Awakens demonstration starting at 4:00 p.m.: Railway Square – Mikonkatu – Aleksanterinkatu – Mannerheimintie – the Parliament Building
Traditional torchlight procession by university students starting at 4:30 p.m., route from Hietaniemi Cemetery – Arkadiankatu – Pohjoisesplanadi – Presidentinlinna – Mariankatu – Aleksanterinkatu – Senate Square
Demonstration against the government’s austerity policy starting at 5:15 p.m Narinkkatori – Mannerheimintie – Esplanadinpuisto – The Market Square
612 torchlight procession starting at 6:30 p.m.: Töölö Square – Runeberginkatu – Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu – Mechelininkatu – Hietaniemi Cemetery

Changes to routes are possible. The latest updated information will be published on Poliisi.fi in a news item updated on Independence Day. The news item will be published on Saturday morning and updated in real time as the day progresses.

Police to monitor an expanded no-fly zone in Helsinki

The police remind all operators that they are required to comply with the flight restrictions in force. Further information and up-to-date no-fly zones are available at Droneinfo.fi and Flyk.com.

The restrictions do not apply to flights conducted by military, border guard, police, customs, maritime and aviation authorities, nor to rescue services, emergency medical services (EMS) or patient transport, or flights ordered by these authorities if their statutory duties require aviation in the area. The restrictions also do not apply to urgent medical helicopter flights or to flights required under international obligations binding on Finland.

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Police warn tourists of pickpockets at Christmas markets in Helsinki

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:37:00 GMT

Over the weekend, Helsinki Police received reports of ten pickpocketing incidents at Christmas markets. The thefts occurred in the area around Senate Square and elsewhere in central Helsinki.

"Professional thieves have targeted Asian tourists. Hundreds of euros in cash were stolen from wallets, and unauthorized purchases or bank transfers were made using several credit cards. The suspects will be deported from Finland under the Aliens Act, as they are considered a threat to public order and safety," says Detective Superintendent Mikko Mikkinen.

How can you protect yourself from pickpockets?

Keep an eye on your wallet or bag. Make sure they are in a safe place.
Choose where to keep your wallet carefully. Keep your wallet in a pocket that is difficult to access.
Avoid storing valuables in back pockets and the outer pockets of your backpack, where it is easy to grab things.
Put your wallet in a safe place after shopping. Do not leave your wallet on top of other items.
If you see suspicious activity, call 112. Always remember to report a crime if something is stolen from you.

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The visit of the Prime Minister of Sweden will cause exceptions to traffic arrangements in Helsinki and Espoo

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:10:00 GMT

The Police are responsible for the safety and security of the events and the related traffic arrangements.

The events of the visitors may require temporary traffic arrangements and short traffic delays mostly in Helsinki and in Espoo. The Police will ensure the safety of the events and direct traffic if necessary.

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The police will safeguard Independence Day celebrations in the capital together with other authorities

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:14:00 GMT

In addition to the traditional celebrations, several demonstrations will take place in Helsinki on Independence Day, 6 December 2025.

“Securing Independence Day events, demonstrations and public order in the capital is the largest annual operation of the Finnish Police. The Helsinki Police Department receives support from several police units as well as assistance by other authorities,” says Chief Superintendent Jere Roimu, Chief of Response and Control Division.

In addition to the police’s own vehicles, the area will include equipment and personnel from the Finnish Defence Forces and the Border Guard.

Independence Day events and processions will cause significant traffic disruption in central Helsinki.

The police recommend avoiding unnecessary private car use between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., especially in the areas around Senate Square, Kruununhaka, Katajanokka and Töölö. Traffic on Pohjoisesplanadi and Mariankatu will be restricted during the day and may be fully closed at times.

“The police will direct traffic as necessary throughout the inner city. The aim of the traffic arrangements is to minimise disruption, but travellers should reserve extra time when moving in the city centre on Independence Day evening,” Roimu says.

Up-to-date information on public transport diversions is available on HSL’s website at www.hsl.fi. The diversions will also affect passengers travelling via the Port of Helsinki’s South Harbour.

The police will publish continuous updates on Independence Day events and key traffic impacts in the news section of the police.fi website throughout the day.

Police to monitor an expanded no-fly zone in central Helsinki

Aviation in central Helsinki will be restricted between 8:00 a.m. on 6 December and 2:00 a.m. on 7 December. The restriction applies to both manned and unmanned aviation (drones). The temporary aviation restriction area has been established to ensure the safety of official aviation activities and public events.
The police remind all operators that they are required to comply with the flight restrictions in force. Further information and up-to-date no-fly zones are available at Droneinfo.fi and Flyk.com.

“Drones may not be flown in the Helsinki city centre area during Independence Day. The police will closely monitor the expanded no-fly zone. Violations will result in fines, and devices may be confiscated as instruments of an offence,” Roimu notes.

Traditional Independence Day events

Traditional Independence Day events:

Finnish Defence Forces’ wreath-laying ceremony at Hietaniemi Cemetery, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Ecumenical Independence Day service at Helsinki Cathedral, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Traditional torchlight procession by university students starting at 4:00 p.m., route from Hietaniemi Cemetery to Senate Square
The President of the Republic’s Independence Day Reception starting at 6:30 p.m.

Demonstrations reported to the police

Under the Assembly Act, the police must be notified of any public assembly or demonstration at least 24 hours before it begins.

The organiser, or a person designated by the organiser, acts as the liaison with the police before and during the demonstration. If necessary, they will negotiate with the police or intervene in the demonstration’s course. The organiser is responsible for ensuring that participants comply with the law and with arrangements agreed with the police.

The organiser is responsible for maintaining safety and public order at the assembly. The organiser may be held criminally liable if they fail to follow police orders or address observed safety threats.

Demonstrations notified to the police:

Catholic procession starting at 11:00 a.m., from St Mary’s Church to St Henry’s Cathedral
March for Finland starting at 11:00 a.m., from the Parliament Building to Hietaniemi Cemetery
Fixit movement demonstration starting at 2:00 p.m., from Senate Square to the Parliament Building
Finland Awakens demonstration starting at 3:00 p.m., from Railway Square to the Parliament Building
Demonstration against the government’s austerity policy starting at 5:00 p.m., route not yet agreed
612 torchlight procession starting at 5:00 p.m., from Töölö Square to Hietaniemi Cemetery

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Police suspect Romanian pandering organisation of criminal proceeds of up to one million euros

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:05:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department’s national human trafficking investigation team has completed an investigation into aggravated pandering involving a Romanian pandering organisation.

The five-member pandering organisation uncovered by the police has been operating for approximately two years.

The suspects were arrested in August in Turku and Oulu, and two additional suspects were arrested upon their arrival in Helsinki in October.

"The group of Romanian suspects consists of five individuals who are currently in custody and who had distinct roles and responsibilities within the organisation. The preliminary investigation has identified 14 persons involved in prostitution who offered sexual services in exchange for payment. The offenders took their share of the profits," says Senior Detective Superintendent Sami Isoniemi, who is leading the investigation.

In the offence of pandering, it is punishable to obtain financial gain for oneself or another person in connection with sexual intercourse or a comparable sexual act. The pandering organisation handled travel and accommodation arrangements for the persons exploited, as well as the management of advertisements for sexual services and customer communications.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the total value of sex-service sales over a period of just under two years was nearly one million euros, and the pandering organisation took more than 300,000 euros from the persons involved in prostitution.

In connection with the investigation, the police have seized a considerable amount of money suspected of being the proceeds of crime, as well as three vehicles used as instruments of crime.

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Police suspect ethnic agitation due to an Instagram post

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:36:00 GMT

The police conducted a preliminary investigation, and based on this, the police will launch a criminal investigation.

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Sexual offences reported to the Helsinki Police Department have increased by more than 50 percent in two years

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:03:00 GMT

The new legislation on sexual offences entered into force in 2023, changing the definitions and classifications of crimes. The changes were expected to increase the number of criminal cases. Therefore, direct comparisons can only be made from 2023 onwards.

"Sexual offences reported to the Helsinki Police Department have continued to increase significantly even after the comprehensive reform of legislation on sexual offences. The new legislation on sexual offences brought new types of offences within the scope of criminal liability, which has certainly contributed to the increase in the number of sexual offenses," estimates Senior Detective Superintendent Jari Illukka.

Based on data from January to October, the number of sexual offences reported to the Helsinki Police Department is expected to increase by 55 percent from 2023. The increase in rapes is 68 percent.

Sexual offences reported to the Helsinki Police Department 2023–2025

	2023	2024	1–10/2023	1–10/2025	Change from 2023
total number of sexual offenses	808	1131	653	1011	54,8 %
rape, forcing someone to have sexual intercourse	304	394	239	402	68,2 %
crimes related to the sexual abuse of children	162	246	135	169	25,1 %
other sexual offenses	342	491	279	440	57,7%

Foreign suspects account for approximately 33 percent of all sexual offences in Helsinki and approximately 40 percent of rapes. There has been no change in this overrepresentation in recent years.

For other sexual offenses, the most common crime category is sexual harassment. sexual harassment was expanded to include sexual acts in addition to physical contact in the new legislation on sexual offences. Sexual harassment accounted for 22 percent of all sexual offencesin 2024. A total of 251 criminal reports were filed, which is double the number in 2022, when the old sexual offences law was in force.

The most common suspected sexual offense is the consensual rape of an adult

Suspected sexual offences often involve a poor understanding of the boundaries of one's own and another person's sexual self-determination. It is less common for the boundaries of another person's self-determination to be consciously and deliberately violated.

A recurring challenge in investigating suspected sexual offencesbased on consent is that the complainant does not show up for questioning or is no longer interested in investigating the matter with the police after filing the report.

"In the initial stages, a suspected sexual offense is based on the complainant's subjective perception of the offense and its perpetrator. Basically, only the complainant can say how, when, where, and by whom their sexual self-determination has been violated," reminds Senior Detective Superintendent Jari Illukka.

It is difficult to determine after the fact whether consent was given to sexual intercourse. Sexual offencesare serious and socially reprehensible crimes, which is why aspects related to the suspect's legal protection must also be taken into account.

Report suspected sexual offencesto the police as soon as possible

In acute situations, always call the emergency number 112! The police will then file a report, take the victim for a sexual assault examination, and may be able to apprehend the suspect quickly.

Reporting the crime to the police quickly is essential for gathering evidence and investigating the crime.

Victims of sexual violence in Helsinki can get help around the clock at the Seri Support Center at the Women's Hospital. Those under the age of 16 are treated at the emergency room of the New Children's Hospital. HUS services include forensic sampling, an overall assessment of the situation, sexually transmitted disease testing, psychological support for coping with the first few days and recovering from the traumatic experience, and a follow-up treatment plan.

More info:

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Police Traffic Safety Centre has moved from Pasila to Malmi

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:56:00 GMT

Police Traffic Safety Centre has moved back to Malmi at Viljatie 2. The traffic fine notification desk is open for customers from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. In addition to notification of fines, customer service desk helps with traffic penalty fee matters.

The Traffic Safety Centre’s customer service is available also via telephone and e-mail. Telephone service at 0295 417 917 is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. You can also reach The Traffic Safety Centre by e-mailing automaattivalvonta@poliisi.fi.

All the traffic offences and traffic crimes detected in automatic traffic surveillance are processed in Police Traffic Safety Centre. The photographs from all the traffic safety cameras located around Finland are transferred wirelessly to Police Traffic Safety Centre where they are processed and road users are issued traffic penalty fees and fines based on them.

Automatic traffic surveillance is one of the police's traffic surveillance methods. On the Finnish roads, there are more than a thousand fixed control points effectively reducing average speeds and thus improving traffic safety.

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The visit of the President of Iceland will cause exceptions to traffic arrangements in central Helsinki

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:47:00 GMT

The Police are responsible for the safety and security of the events and the related traffic arrangements.

President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb will receive President Tómasdóttir and Mr Skúlason at an official welcome ceremony on Tuesday 7 October in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. The public will be able to follow the ceremony from the Market Square at around 10.00.

Traffic in front of the Presidential Palace will be stopped during the ceremony. The disruption will last about one hour, starting around 9:30 a.m.

The events of the visitors may require temporary traffic arrangements and short traffic delays mostly in the Helsinki city centre. The police will ensure the safety of the events and direct traffic if necessary.

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Weapon displays to be booked online in future

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:02:00 GMT

Starting on October 8, 2025, we will switch to advance booking online and discontinue the waiting-in-line system.

This change will allow our customers to avoid unnecessary waiting for weapon displays and enable us to provide even better service.

Book your weapon display appointment through our online service at asiointi.poliisi.fi. You can book appointments for Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

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Helsinki Police Department has significantly increased surveillance, emergency response, criminal investigations and deportations due to drug-related disturbances

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:11:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department receives numerous reports about disturbances caused by substance abuse and feelings of insecurity. The disturbances are mainly related to drug use and related crime.
The Helsinki Police Department considers residents' feedback when planning its activities. The police are constantly present in the city and ready to act around the clock, every day of the year.

The police encourage people to call the emergency number 112 in urgent situations where immediate assistance from the police, first aid or rescue services is required. Emergencies include assaults, drug dealing and dangerous or disruptive behaviour.

"The Helsinki Police Department is responding to emergencies faster than ever before. The improved response time is a result of increased visible surveillance in areas prone to disturbances. The number of surveillance tasks has increased significantly in the early part of the year," says Superintendent Jere Roimu.

The average response time for the most urgent emergency calls was 4.8 minutes from the beginning of January to the end of August in 2025, even though the number of emergency calls increased by 13 percent during the same period. For the whole of 2025, the total number of emergency calls is expected to be 161,380.

Excellent emergency response readiness and increased surveillance reduce disruptive behavior, prevent crimes in advance, and speed up the investigation of crimes that have already occurred.

Residents are asked to assist the police in targeting their surveillance efforts, as drug-related security risks and the number of tasks are skyrocketing

The Helsinki Police Department monitors and anticipates the security situation in real-time, based on which the police target surveillance, emergency services, criminal investigations, and other measures. Surveillance is targeted in an information-driven manner based on the police's own situation awareness and feedback from stakeholders and citizens.

The amount of surveillance carried out at locations causing disturbances has increased by 121 percent compared to 2024. During the current year, the police have removed 31,452 individuals causing disturbances from trouble spots. This is 68 per cent more than in 2024. By the end of August 2025, 11,367 individuals had been apprehended. This represents a 20 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2024.

Residents can assist the police by sending non-urgent tips to vihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi about possible drug dealing or other criminal activity, or activity that jeopardises street safety.

Drug seizures by the Helsinki Police Department have increased

Criminal investigations into drug dealers are conducted on the streets and online. As a rule, methods that are not visible on the streets are used for this activity.
In 2025, the Helsinki Police Department has uncovered 3,469 drug offences, which is 14 percent more than at the same time last year. A total of 3,368 suspects have been identified in connection with drug offences, which is 15 percent more than in 2024.

The Helsinki Police Department has already sent 475 kilograms of seized narcotics to the National Bureau of Investigation's forensic laboratory this year, compared to a total of 448 kilograms seized in 2024.

‘The number of drug seizures and the quantities seized by the Helsinki Police Department have risen for cannabis, amphetamine, Alpha-PVP, and cocaine,’ says Senior Detective Superintendent Jari Illukka.

The proportion of foreigners involved in street and online drug sales has increased. As a result, the Helsinki Police Department has enhanced its criminal deportations.

The Helsinki Police Department has deported 598 individuals from the country so far this year. This is 201 more than last year, representing a 50 percent increase.

"The increase is largely due to more effective monitoring and the fact that deportations have become an integral part of maintaining public order and safety. Amendments to the Aliens Act have also given the police more powers in this regard. Deportations related to the prevention of immediate threats to public order and safety have increased," says Superintendent Simo Kauppinen.

The harmful effects of drugs are escalating, and combating this issue requires clearly defined roles for public sector actors and aligned objectives

The number of drug users and the amount of drugs used in Finland are skyrocketing. This causes multidisciplinary security, health, and social problems.

The growing demand for drugs increases international organised crime related to their manufacture, import, and distribution. Drug dealing on the streets and online, as well as drug use, causes public disorder. These often take the form of various types of violence, property crime, and other crimes. These types of crimes target users and their immediate circle, and to an increasing extent also bystanders and specific professional groups.

The adverse effects of drugs affect an increasingly wide range of people, and combating the resulting security, health, and social problems requires an increasing amount of resources from society. From the point of view of overall security, it is therefore essential to halt the steady increase in the number of drug users, especially young people.

"The Helsinki Police Department has its own role and core mission. The efficiency of operational activities has been significantly improved during the current year, and police services are being continuously developed in line with changes in the operating environment and feedback received," says Police Chief Jari Liukku.

The primary goal of the Helsinki Police Department is to meet residents' expectations when it comes to essential police services.

"However, stopping the growth of the drug problem requires a real-time picture of the situation, more effective preventive communication based on facts, a more focused attitude, and a shared view within the public sector on the underlying causes of the drug problem, how best to combat them, and the role of each actor," says Liukku.

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Police suspect homicide in the Hietalahdenkatu case

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 07:03:00 GMT

"There is reason to suspect homicide in this case, and the police have therefore arrested a man on suspicion of the crime. To protect the investigation, the police cannot disclose any further information at this time," said Detective Inspector Juha Piippo.

The police will provide further information on Monday.

If you saw or heard anything in the area at that time, please contact us by email vakivaltavihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi or by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 050 562 5433.

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Police investigating death in Hietalahti

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:07:00 GMT

The circumstances are still being established, and a criminal offence has not been ruled out.

Depending on the findings, the case will proceed either as a death investigation or as a suspected homicide. The police will issue an update when there is verified new information.

If you saw or heard anything in the area at that time, please contact us by email vakivaltavihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi or by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 050 562 5433.

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Youth crime down in Helsinki, drug-related problems on the rise

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:36:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department and the City of Helsinki work together closely in various ways. This cooperation is based on a shared situational awareness.

The focus of the cooperation is on preventing youth crime, reducing the harm and disturbances caused by drug use, and improving the sense of safety in areas and at times when the perceived lack of safety is higher than average.

Drug use and violence increase feeling of being unsafe

People in Helsinki feel unsafe most often on weekends in the northeastern and eastern districts of the city, stretching from Vuosaari to Malmi and Puistola. In addition, people said they felt less safe in Helsinki’s districts of Alppiharju, Kallio, and Vallila.

Feelings of being unsafe are also common in downtown Helsinki on the weekends. Women and the youngest respondents, aged 15–29, are most likely to feel unsafe in the city centre. In the evenings, people felt significantly less safe on the metro and local trains than on trams or buses.

“Regional differences in insecurity on weekend evenings remain significant. Witnessing violence and drug use in one's own neighbourhood is strongly linked to feelings of insecurity on weekend evenings. In addition, previous experiences of victimisation, low health status, and low trust in the help of other residents are linked to feelings of being unsafe,” said researcher Jenni Erjansola from the City of Helsinki's Urban Research and Statistics.

Minority status, as measured by reported first language, does not appear to explain perceived feelings of being unsafe in one's own neighbourhood. Trust in the police and emergency services was also not clearly linked to a perceived lack of safety, when examined alongside other explanatory factors. Around nine out of ten Helsinki residents say that they trust these institutions.

Slightly more than half believe that safety in Helsinki has deteriorated over the past three years. In the 2018 and 2021 surveys, a significantly higher proportion of respondents felt that safety levels had deteriorated rather than improved.

General risk awareness may also influence this assessment, and perceptions may be exaggerated if they are based on unrest among other population groups, crime reporting or the active use of social media.

“Helsinki residents generally feel safe in all residential areas of our city. Even so, there are also some unfavourable developments. Experiences of a declining sense of safety must be taken seriously. We need new methods and extensive cooperation among different actors to improve the sense of safety in Helsinki,” said Helsinki Mayor Daniel Sazonov.

The data for the Helsinki Safety Survey was collected at the turn of 2024‒2025.

Cycles of serious crime among young people have been successfully curbed through cooperation between the Helsinki Police Department and the City of Helsinki

Youth crime, especially robberies and street gangs, has been the focus of cooperation between the Helsinki Police Department and the City of Helsinki in recent years.

The increase in robberies committed by minors coincided with the emergence of street gangs. At that time, street gangs were at their most visible on social media, and other young people who had committed serious crimes were also found to idealise the criminal lifestyle.

In 2024, the number of crime reports involving street gang members decreased compared to the previous year. The police consider that this is the result of proactive measures by the authorities, as key members of street gangs have been the subject of criminal investigations and have been sentenced for various offences.

Crimes committed by persons under the age of 18 have decreased since 2024, and the decline has continued.

Crimes committed by persons under the age of 18 have fallen by around 5% during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Among 15–17-year-olds, crimes have decreased by 34%, and among those under 15, by 71%.

"The decrease of robberies among minors shows that we have together with the City of Helsinki and other third-sector organisations succeeded in curbing the cycle of serious criminal activities among young people. Removing the most persistent offenders from the streets often has a calming effect on their wider circle of friends,” said Police Chief Jari Liukku.

A special unit called “Toivo” was established within the City of Helsinki's child welfare services in 2021. It is intended for young people aged 12–17 who are in open and foster care and face serious challenges due to crime, substance abuse or behavioural issues.

The Helsinki Police Department and the City of Helsinki will continue to develop school police activities. To support and develop these activities, the City of Helsinki will assign a stakeholder expert to work at the Helsinki Police Department. Similarly, the City of Helsinki has long had a police coordinator appointed by the Helsinki Police Department.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to strengthen cooperation between the City of Helsinki and the Helsinki Police Department. It has been crucial that the city and the police have successfully established effective structures for collaboration and have agreed on several concrete measures to strengthen our joint work. Special attention has been given to children and young people, with a focus on improving their wellbeing and safety," said Mayor Sazonov.

Cooperation between the police and youth services is being developed, particularly in terms of outreach activities, so that more trained adults are available to young people in places they frequent, including in the evenings and at weekends.

Helsinki's traffic arrangements and police supervision increase traffic safety in Helsinki

The speed limit on Helsinki's streets is currently 30 kilometres per hour in most cases, which has significantly improved traffic safety.

“Helsinki will soon lower the speed limit on 50 streets near schools to 30 kilometres per hour. Some streets will also undergo modifications to support the speed reduction, such as speed bumps or speed display boards," said Mayor Sazonov.

The taxi arrangements in the square outside the Central Railway Station have been successfully revamped and the situation in the area has stabilised. The city put taxi services out to tender because competition for customers was causing disturbances and police interventions. As a result of the competitive bidding, two taxi companies now operate at Asema-aukio, and automatic gates control the traffic. In addition, police and parking enforcement have been increased in the area to prevent unauthorised taxi operators from picking up customers outside the area.

The city has also restricted the parking of shared electric scooters in the city centre. The monitoring of electric scooters is one of the priorities of the Helsinki Police Department's traffic control.

"The Helsinki Police Department carries out breathalyser tests on approximately 60,000 drivers per year, detects approximately 1,500 cases of drunk driving, and issues approximately 30,000 traffic fines. Approximately half of the drunk driving cases are related to narcotics,” said Police Chief Liukku.

The primary objective of police traffic control is to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and enhance traffic safety.

Cities and police departments in the capital region are stepping up cooperation to reduce the harmful effects of drugs

Disturbances visible on the streets of Helsinki are mainly related to drug use and associated crimes.

Rising drug use and the associated harm will become more visible on the streets if the trend cannot be reversed.

There are dozens of cameras in the Helsinki area, which the police’s command centre uses to monitor public order and safety. The camera system also helps in solving crimes. For this reason, the camera system will be developed based on security research.

“The Helsinki Police Department monitors and anticipates the security situation in real time, and the police target their surveillance and other measures based on this. We have significantly increased surveillance in areas prone to disturbances, and the number of public order tasks has doubled in the first half of the year,” said Police Chief Liukku.

The Helsinki Police Department and the City of Helsinki are stepping up their cooperation in referring people to substance abuse treatment and preventing drug-related deaths, particularly for those people who are in police custody, as approximately 16,000 people are detained each year. Many police custody clients have serious substance abuse problems. The approach is being developed in cooperation with the police, substance abuse services, service users and experts who have experience in this area.

Drug addiction is a serious health problem that has many negative consequences for the individual, their loved ones, and society as a whole.

Supporting drug addicts and their loved ones is in everyone's interest, as it helps to reduce drug use and prevent the harm it causes.

The leaders of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa met with the leaders of the Helsinki and Western and Eastern Uusimaa Police Departments in Helsinki on August 22 to discuss the drug situation.

“The harmful effects of drugs on Helsinki's streets have clearly increased. The city's wide range of services, including prevention and corrective measures, is working at the forefront to address the problem. The situation also requires new, determined action from the city. We are drawing up a substance abuse strategy to respond to the drug situation in Helsinki. In addition, the city has begun preparations for swift-impact measures to reduce the harm caused by drug use,” said Mayor Sazonov.

Information:

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Alpha-PVP has exacerbated the drug situation in Helsinki

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 07:02:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police conducted more operations in the first six months of 2025 than in the same period of 2024.

In the first six months of the year, Helsinki Police Department was called out to handle 12 per cent more incidents. The number of operations increased across all urgency categories.

The number of crimes reported to the Helsinki Police increased by 9 per cent in the first half of the year. The biggest increase has been in petty crime, with 54 per cent more such incidents reported to the police than last year.

“Shops in Helsinki have reported a dramatic increase in shoplifting, with the incidents becoming more brazen. As a result, retail staff and customers face more threatening situations,” says Marko Silen, Director of Advisory Services at the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce.

Helsinki Police Department and its stakeholders have observed a recent increase in public order disturbances on public transport and violent behaviour by customers towards authorities and security guards.

The preliminary results of a safety survey by the City of Helsinki support the findings of the police and stakeholders on the growing harms of drug use. In addition to detected drugs, the highest incidences of assaults and fights have occurred in the same residential areas.

Ninety per cent of Helsinki’s residents feel safe in the city on average, but the situation is still perceived to have deteriorated.

Helsinki’s safety survey was conducted at the end of 2024 and the start of 2025, and the City of Helsinki will publish detailed results later this year.

The number of public order operations conducted by the police doubled in the first half of the year

Helsinki Police Department has significantly increased surveillance in areas where public order incidents occur in response to feedback from citizens and stakeholders.

The number of public order operations conducted by the Helsinki Police doubled in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Increased surveillance improves safety in public areas, reduces police response times and speeds up the investigation of crimes that have already been committed.

“These disturbances are mainly related to drug use and associated crimes. The disturbances are concentrated in the Kurvi area, Itäkeskus and Kontula, where surveillance has been stepped up. Police surveillance is constantly being developed in line with the changing operating environment, promises Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen.

The Helsinki Police is always present in the city and ready to respond around the clock, every day of the year.

The police encourage people to call 112 in an emergency when they need police, first-aid or rescue assistance.

You can send non-urgent tips to the police at vihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi about possible drug trafficking or other criminal activity and incidents that endanger safety on the street.

Growing demand for drugs fuels fierce international crime and other criminality

The growing use of drugs spurs drug importation, trafficking and related crimes. Drug-related crime has a strong international, serious and organised dimension.

“Alpha-PVP is a daily occurrence in policing, and drug offenses related to it are reaching record levels this year. Based on our preliminary investigations, Alpha-PVP is mainly produced in Finland by foreign organised criminals from the Baltic countries," says Senior Detective Superintendent Kimmo Sainio.

Based on preliminary investigations by the Helsinki Police, drug imports are dominated by networks linked to Swedish and Albanian organised crime groups. They smuggle amphetamine and cocaine into Finland. The quantities of drugs seized in preliminary investigations of organised crime have been increasing.

Drug seizures by the Helsinki Police Department


	Up to 4 August 2024	Up to 4 August 2025	Change
Cannabis or marijuana	3071	3388	10 %
Amphetamines	706	605	- 14 %
Alfa-PVP	41	354	763 %
Cocaine	202	298	48 %

Drug use also contributes significantly to other forms of crime.

“We estimate that a person using various drugs needs to spend €3,000–€6,000 per month on drugs alone. This is financed, in particular, by property crime, robbery, fraud and drug-dealing. Young women in particular are exposed to sexual offences when they acquire drugs,” Sainio points out.
The proportion of foreigners involved in street drug dealing has increased. This is why the Helsinki Police Department has stepped up deportations due to crime.

The Helsinki Police Department deported 523 people from Finland in the first half of the year, 69 of whom were escorted out. That is 197 more deportations than last year – an increase of 60%.

Alpha-PVP causes severe psychological symptoms and addiction

According to the Helsinki emergency services, drug problems are keeping paramedics busy at a steady rate. In addition to acute overdoses, patients with chronic health problems due to drug use are a constant sight.

HUS, the region’s public health care authority, has estimated that there are 12,000–15,000 intravenous drug users in the Helsinki metropolitan area. HUS treats drug overdoses every day and estimates that there are around 1,000 per year.

The total number of ambulance operations related to drugs has increased slightly, but the number of heavy users of mixtures of drugs has remained stable. Alpha-PVP has emerged as the drug of choice this year, especially during the summer.

“Alpha-PVP has very troublesome psychological effects, namely hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety and psychotic behaviour. The situation is challenging for first-responders because the patient may be out of control and can be a danger to themselves, bystanders and paramedics. Quite often, the police have to be involved in these operations in addition to the ambulance service," says Katja Peräjoki, the physician in charge of emergency care in Helsinki.

Another unfortunate feature of Alpha-PVP is its highly addictive nature. First responders sometimes encounter very young users who need professional intervention to stop using the drug.

The police actively intervene in underage drug use to prevent children and young people from becoming drug users

The police want to reduce drug-related deaths and the grief and sorrow associated with drug use.

Drug addiction is a serious health problem with a high level of harm to individuals, their loved ones and society as a whole.

“Two of my relatives have become addicted to drugs, and I have lost one relative to addiction. Seeing my relatives get hooked on drugs has had a permanent impact on me. I have to deal with my emotions on a daily basis, which takes a toll on me both mentally and physically. It helps to know that I am not alone, even though sometimes I feel alone – for example, when I need to make a decision," says Tiia Naukkarinen, who volunteers for Irti Huumeista Ry, an organisation that helps people to stop using drugs.

It is in everyone’s interest to help people who are battling drug addiction – and also to help their relatives. This can reduce and prevent drug use and the harm it causes.

The police do not fine minors for a first drug offence, but an interview is arranged as quickly as possible after a person under 18 is caught. The interview is attended by the police, the social welfare and health authority and the young person's guardian(s). In addition to the interview, the young person is referred for substance abuse treatment, and the police file a child protection report.

The police call for realism and a focus on safety in social discourse

According to Statistics Finland, 310 people died from drug-related causes in 2023. Almost one in three drug-related deaths were among people under 25. The number of deaths reached a record high and has been rising steadily.

According to THL, attitudes towards drug use have been becoming more moderate for a long time. A population survey conducted in 2022 revealed that nearly half (47%) of young adults aged 25–34 had tried cannabis at some point in their lives.

In addition, studies of wastewater unambiguously show an increase in drug use in Finland.

Rising drug use and the associated harms will become more visible on the streets if the trend cannot be reversed.

Specific solutions to the problem of drugs, such as rooms for taking drugs, have been put forward to help reduce the health impacts and costs. However, from a police perspective, these could have the effect of increasing disorder and crime, and certainly would not reduce the growing use of drugs, which is at the root of the problem.

Police operations are uncovering Alpha-PVP now, but new substances always emerge. Tangible measures should be identified in order to halt the growth in the number of drug users.

Public discourse has focused on the legalisation of some drugs and the development of environments that are generally uncontrolled with respect to illegal drugs.

“The public debate on drugs is too positive. In Finland, there is no such thing as the non-criminal use of drugs – recreational or otherwise. Most of the drugs that are sold and used come from abroad. Organised crime groups reap the benefits of the wholesale trade. Using drugs, on the other hand, is expensive. It is often financed by committing various crimes and selling drugs," says Police Chief Jari Liukku.

Street-level drug dealing and use lead to public disorder, which is generally associated with various forms of violent and other crime. It affects people involved in the distribution and use of drugs, but increasingly also bystanders and certain professional groups.

The diversity of harms caused by drugs affects an increasingly wide range of people, and combating the consequent safety, health and social issues demands increasing resources from society.

“The key to overall safety is to stop the steady increase in the number of drug users. The police have their role and core tasks, but stopping the problem from growing requires a change in communication and attitudes,” continues Police Chief Jari Liukku.

The police alone cannot solve the drug problem. A comprehensive study should be conducted to analyse the drug situation in Finland and assess the necessary measures. The situation should be examined at least in terms of safety, adverse health effects, social problems and economic costs.

More info

National Police Board of Finland: Use and seizures of the highly dangerous alpha-PVP narcotic have increased - Police
Police in Helsinki arrive faster and solve more crimes than before - Police
Helsingin seudun kauppakamari: Näpistyksiä alkuvuonna Helsingissä jopa 60 prosenttia enemmän kuin aiemmin

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Conference and state visits affect traffic in Helsinki

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:20:00 GMT

The events and the motorcades of the visitors may require temporary traffic arrangements and short traffic delays on 30 and 31 July, mostly in the Helsinki city centre. The police will ensure the safety of the events and direct traffic if necessary.

The traffic arrangements will not significantly affect public transportation. Aviation will also be restricted with a temporary restricted zone in the Helsinki city centre. Visit the addresses droneinfo.fi. and flyk.com for more detailed information on aviation restrictions

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Police in Helsinki arrive faster and solve more crimes than before

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:45:00 GMT

The number of police tasks has increased in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Despite this, the level of service has increased significantly.

Patrols arrive faster than ever before in emergency situations and preventive patrolling in locations with reported disturbances is more effective than before. In addition, the results of criminal investigations have improved from last year.

Crime clearance rates have risen and investigation times are shorter. The number of suspected offences committed by minors has also decreased. The number of removals of foreign nationals from the country is clearly higher than in 2024, particularly for reasons of public order and security.

“Residents have clear expectations of police services and constant changes in the environment also requires continuous improvement of policing. The Helsinki Police has taken these demands into account. Our performance has developed excellently and we have especially focused on meeting people’s expectations, which has steered our development measures in the right direction”, says Jari Liukku, Chief of Police.

Faster response to emergencies and more effective control in areas with disturbances

In the first six months of the year, the Helsinki Police Department's number of alarm tasks increased by 12%. The number of alarms increased for all categories of urgency. Despite the increase, the police arrived on the scene faster than before for the most urgent tasks. Alarm statistics include demonstrations and other long-duration tasks involving several police patrols.

“The number of surveillance tasks has doubled, meaning that the police are increasingly visible in Helsinki. Active surveillance improves safety in public areas and reduces the response time”, says Chief Inspector Henri Helminen.

In the first half of the year, 451 people have been removed from the country, 50 of whom were escorted. This is an increase of 175 people since last year, representing a 63% increase. Most of them have been Estonian and Romanian nationals, accounting for around 37% of the total.

Faster investigations into serious crimes against children

The number of crimes reported to the Helsinki police has increased by 9% in the first half of the year. Despite the increase in the number of crimes reported to the police, the clearance rate has risen and investigation times have decreased. Investigation times have also clearly decreased for serious crimes against children.

The biggest increase has been in petty theft, with 54% more cases reported to the police than last year. According to shop managers in Helsinki, shoplifters repeatedly cause disturbances and pose dangers to staff and customers.

All offences committed by adolescents have fallen by around 5% in the last year. A particularly positive development is the number of robbery offences, which have decreased by 34.37% for 15–17-year-olds and by 71.42% for those under 15.

“The decrease of robberies among minors shows that we have together with the City of Helsinki and other third sector parties succeeded in breaking the serious criminal cycle of young people”, says Detective Chief Superintendent Markku Heinikari, Director of the Criminal Investigation Unit.

No traffic fatalities in Helsinki in the last year

There were 788 drunken driving offences in the first half of the year, which is 15% more than last year. The police recorded 216 cases of aggravated endangerment of traffic safety, 6.9% more than last year.

“It is exceptional and gratifying that no one has been killed on the roads of Helsinki over the past 12 months. This shows that the long-term work to improve road safety, infrastructure and surveillance is paying off. In particular, urban planning, rationalising speed limits and improving conditions for pedestrians are clearly contributing to road safety. But the work is not over - our aim is to ensure that this does not remain the exception but becomes the new normal", reminds Superintendent Dennis Pasterstein, director of the traffic control function.

The aim of traffic surveillance is to reduce road fatalities and improve road safety.

Key figures for the first half of the year for the Helsinki Police Department

	January-June 2024	January-June 2025	Change
Total number of alert duties	69 032	76 976	7944 (11,5 %)
Operational response time in most urgent tasks	5,0 min	4,8 min	– 3,2 %
All crime (excluding traffic)	34 060	37 182	3 122 (9,2%)
Crime clearance rate (excluding traffic)	44,8 %	51,7 %	15,5 %
Crime investigation time (excluding traffic)	162 days	156 days	– 4 %
Urgent investigations concerning children	227 days	189 days	38 days (–16,7 %)
Removals of foreigners from the country	276	451	175 (63 %)

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Chief Superintendent Patrik Karlsson appointed head of the Special Operations Division

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:46:00 GMT

The head of the Special Operations Unit is responsible for leading, developing, and supervising the Helsinki Police Department's Special Operations Unit, which includes Traffic Control Operations, Special Intervention Operations and Dignitary Protection Operations

The Special Operations Division is responsible for the safety of the President, members of the Government and state visitors. Special Intervention Unit Karhu, Police Traffic Safety Centre and Helsinki Police Band are also part of the Special Operations Division

Superintendent Karlsson has held senior positions for approximately 12 years. He has previously worked as a superintendent on a fixed-term contract as head of the Operational Command Center and head of the Special Operations Division.

Karlsson completed his police senior officer's degree in 2015.

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Football World Cup qualifying matches to affect traffic in Helsinki

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:25:00 GMT

Finland will face the Netherlands at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday 7 June and Poland on Tuesday 10 June. Both matches will kick off at 9:45 pm, but fan marches could affect traffic earlier in the evening.

The events will attract many supporters to the city, and the police will maintain a prominent presence to provide security for the occasion.

“Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to attend the matches, so people in central Helsinki should be prepared for exceptional traffic arrangements and temporary traffic disruptions,” says Chief Inspector Jere Roimu of the Helsinki Police.

The police will be assisted by the Border Guard in the security arrangements. In addition, the Helsinki Rescue Department's Rescue Task Force for demanding situations will be present.
Helsinki Rescue Department to set up Rescue Task Force

The police recommend that you avoid coming to the match by car. Arrive well in advance, and familiarise yourself with the routes provided by the event organisers to ensure a smoother journey. The event organiser will also restrict traffic around the stadium.
“Before the matches, supporters may organise marches to the stadium, which may cause temporary closures of streets and junctions and disrupt traffic, especially in Töölö and the city centre. The police will direct traffic during the marches,” Roimu says.

There are no specific restrictions on aviation during the events, but the police would like to reaffirm that drones must not be flown over or near crowds for safety reasons. The police will monitor aviation during the events and intervene if any infringements are detected.

Supporters may be loud and visible, and they must be safe

“Supporters are allowed to be loud, visible and colourful. They can march and celebrate. The police do not want to interfere with normal football supporting activities, but crime is not an acceptable part of a public event. Supporting the team does not involve prearranged fights, random acts of violence, resisting stewards or concealing one’s identity with the intention of committing property offences or causing damage," stresses Roimu.

For safety reasons, burning flares is prohibited. Flares are very hot and can cause serious burn injuries. "Bangers" (loud explosives) are also banned. Bangers can contain substantial amounts of explosive powder, which could cause hearing damage.

At public events, the organiser is responsible for running the event. The role of the police is to support stewards at the event and maintain order in the vicinity of the event, for example at fan marches.

The public must always follow the instructions and orders of stewards and the police.

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Police prepared for the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in Helsinki

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:12:00 GMT

The demonstration, reported to the police, will take place on Thursday 5 June, at 4 pm at Senaatintori. The demonstration march will start at 4:30 pm and proceed from Senaatintori to Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie, Töölönlahdenkatu, and Kansalaistori. According to the notification, the demonstration will not involve civil disobedience.

"The police anticipate that Thursday's demonstration will cause moderate and short-term traffic disruptions," according to Superintendent Jarmo Heinonen.

According to police information, another demonstration is scheduled for Monday 9 June, which is expected to cause significant and prolonged traffic disruptions in central Helsinki. The police recommend allowing plenty of time for travel in the city centre and preparing for traffic disruptions. If necessary, the police will divert traffic to alternative routes.

The police's task is to safeguard the protesters' freedom of expression and assembly, public order and safety, and the rights of other city residents.

"The police are prepared for the possibility that Monday's demonstration may cause unreasonable disruption to traffic. In such a case, the police may have to take demonstrators into custody ," Heinonen said.

The police always negotiate with the organiser of the demonstration to ensure that the demonstration would not cause unreasonable disturbance to other citizens. If the demonstration is carried out in significant violation of the law, endangers public order and safety, or obstructs traffic, the police may interfere with the course of the event by issuing instructions and orders or, ultimately, by ending the demonstration.

The option to interrupt or end a demonstration is always assessed case-by-case. Instructions and, if necessary, orders issued by the police, as well as the means used to enforce them, are based on an overall assessment of the situation. The police always primarily try to negotiate with the organiser to resolve the situation.

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A massive operation involving Finland in Albania – criminal network leaders arrested

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:13:00 GMT

The operation was carried out in cooperation with Albanian Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). Officers from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Southwestern Finland and Helsinki Police Departments participated in the operation in Albania.

The criminal investigation was launched in March 2023 when the Southwestern Finland Police Department and the National Bureau of Investigation seized over a hundred kilos of amphetamine and cocaine. At the same time the Helsinki Police Department also seized several dozen kilos of amphetamine in its investigation. It was discovered during the criminal investigation that both of these cases had links to the same criminal network with an Albanian background led from Albania.

To step up the investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, the authorities of Finland and the Albanian SPAK set up a joint investigation team (JIT) in late 2023.

– This was necessary because Albanian law does not allow the extradition of Albanian citizens to another country, so international cooperation was needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and stop the criminal activity, says the leader of the JIT, Detective Chief Inspector Hans Fagerström of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The Finnish members of the JIT come from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Southwestern Finland and Helsinki Police Departments.

– The arrests made during this operation are a major step forward in stopping the activity of the criminal network, and the operation shows that the authorities carry out close and effective cross-border cooperation, Detective Chief Inspector Fagerström continues.

The criminal network concerned has operated in Finland, Albania and several other European countries, but its activities have mainly been run from Albania. It is suspected that the criminal network has delivered, among others, a total of 425 kilos of amphetamine, 34 kilos of cocaine and hundreds of kilos of marijuana to Finland from different European countries since early 2023.

The police have previously published information about the criminal investigations completed in Finland, which have subsequently also led to convictions. Most of the judgments issued are already final. The criminal investigation and consideration of charges for those who were arrested in this operation in Albania will be conducted by the Albanian authorities.

Criminal investigations by Southwestern Finland Police Department considered by district court

In 2023, the Southwestern Finland Police Department’s drug crime unit started to investigate an aggravated narcotics offence case where an organisation led by Albanians smuggled amphetamine and cocaine, among others, to Finland from the Netherlands. It was established during the investigation that a total of 176 kilos of amphetamine, 14 kilos of cocaine and 1,620 Oxydolor 80 mg tablets had been smuggled to Finland between December 2022 and March 2023. The police seized around 88 kilos of this amphetamine, around nine kilos of the cocaine, and all Oxydolor 80 mg tablets. Nine persons were sentenced to imprisonment for different periods.
The activity was professional; the drugs were smuggled hidden in the structures of a lorry. Persons had also been sent to Finland from abroad to receive the drugs and distribute them further.

In 2024, the Southwestern Finland Police drug crime unit investigated a case involving drug smuggling led by Albanians where around 160 kilos of marijuana were smuggled to Finland. The police seized around 40 kilos of these drugs.

The drugs were smuggled in summer 2024 in postal consignments to Turku. The consignments were again received by persons sent to Finland from abroad, who also distributed the drugs in the country following the instructions given to them. The drugs were mainly distributed in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

In January 2025, the Varsinais-Suomi District Court sentenced seven persons to imprisonment for different periods for the illegal import and distribution of marijuana in Turku.

Cooperation between national police units in both of these criminal investigations played a significant role in the overall detection of the cases.

Dozens of suspects in criminal investigations conducted by Helsinki Police Department

In connection with the present case, the Helsinki Police Department has detected several drug distribution rings operating in the Helsinki metropolitan area, in particular. Significant amounts of drugs, mostly amphetamine and marijuana, were seized during the criminal investigations completed in 2023–2025. Some information about these investigations has already been published. On the basis of these investigations, several dozen people have been sentenced to unconditional imprisonment by the District Courts of Helsinki and Eastern Uusimaa.

In early 2023, the police investigated persons with an Albanian background who were suspected of organising large-scale drug trafficking. As a result of intelligence collection by the police, the number of suspects increased, and two amphetamine seizures of around 40 kilos were made, one in spring 2023 and the other in September that same year.

– It was confirmed during the criminal investigation that separate actors belonging to the network in Finland were directed by the same actors from Albania. We also managed to gather quite strong evidence on the complicity of the responsible persons in drug trafficking to Finland. One of the main organisers was already previously arrested in Serbia based on a European arrest warrant, says the head of the Helsinki Police investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Markku Juurikkamäki.

The investigation into the criminal network was continued in real time and, thanks to excellent international exchange of information, the police also detected a separate drug distribution ring which operated in 2023 and 2024 and smuggled up to hundreds of kilos of marijuana and significant amounts of cocaine to Finland. This investigation was initiated after detecting a person who, on the basis of information exchange, was part of the same network in Albania. When the target person arrived in Finland, as a result of intelligence gathered the police managed to extend the investigation to persons previously unknown to the authorities. Most of the drugs were distributed in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The criminal investigation was completed in two parts and considered by the Helsinki District Court in autumn 2024 and spring 2025.

– Albanian criminal networks have been responsible for most of the drugs distributed in the Helsinki metropolitan area, so this operation that we carried out has a direct impact on actors in the area, Detective Chief Inspector Juurikkamäki says.

Criminal leaders to be brought to justice – not only low-level actors

Close cooperation between the SPAK and Finnish authorities has been a key element in the investigation, enabling the arrests and the fact that top leaders of the criminal networks are being brought to justice.

– Lasting results in combating drug trafficking also requires bringing the top leaders and middle management of criminal networks to justice. Arresting only couriers and those receiving drug deliveries and dealing drugs in the street is not enough if the actors running the activity are not reached. When the leaders are caught and brought to justice, this will ideally stop the activity of the entire criminal group - not only disrupt it for a while, explains Fagerström.

Drug trafficking in Finland has become extremely international, and there are currently several foreign groups operating in the Finnish drug market. Albanian and Swedish criminal groups are major actors along with other international groups.

Albanian criminal groups have created extensive networks especially in Europe but also on transport routes between South-American producer countries and Europe. These groups are known for good networking and their severe potential for violence and ability to organise big drug deliveries through several countries. The arrests made during the present operation constitute concrete action to tackle this larger phenomenon.

The investigation has been supported by the Operational Network (@ON) financed by the European Commission and led by the Italian Antimafia Investigation Directorate (DIA).

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Police shoot during a robbery in Herttoniemi

Sat, 17 May 2025 08:03:00 GMT

A police patrol arrived quickly at the scene and apprehended the suspect, who had fled on foot, at 0.45 a.m. The Helsinki Police Department is conducting a preliminary investigation into the robbery as aggravated robbery.

During the chase, another police officer fired two shots. No one was injured in the incident.

A prosecutor appointed as the lead investigator is investigating the use of firearms by the police and is also responsible for providing information on the case.

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The Police’s Karhu Special Intervention Unit is conducting exercises at sea off the coast of Helsinki with other authorities and helicopters

Thu, 08 May 2025 11:07:00 GMT

The exercise will begin at 10 am on Monday 12 May and end at 6 pm on Thursday 15 May. The exercise will take place during the day.

The Utti Jaeger Regiment and the Finnish Border Guard’s Special Intervention Units are among the authorities participating in the exercise alongside the Police Special Intervention Unit. International police and border forces from Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Denmark, among others, will also participate in the exercise.

The exercise will be visible at sea and in the air

Exercises will take place in Santahamina, on islands off the coast of Helsinki, and on passenger ships. The exercise involves helicopters from the Finnish Defence Forces, the Finnish Border Guard, and the Danish Air Force, and the helicopters may be visible during the week’s exercises.

On Monday 12 May, exercises will take place in Santahamina. On Tuesday 13 May and Wednesday 14 May, exercises will occur in Santahamina, on the islands off the coast of Helsinki, and in Katajanokka. Some exercises will take place at sea, on a cruise ship sailing in the Gulf of Finland. On Thursday 15 May, exercises will take place in the Helsinki archipelago and on a cruise ship.

Hundreds of operators

Training munitions will be used during the exercise, which may cause noise in the surrounding area.

The personnel involved in the exercise will wear combat gear and carry weapons. The trainers will wear yellow high-visibility vests. The troops will reach the exercise sites by boat and helicopter.

The exercise will use target personnel who will act as targets who must be apprehended or injured people who need help.

Approximately 200 people will participate in the exercise.

Seamless cooperation is critical in real-life situations

Special operations at sea require steadfast cooperation between authorities. There are regular exercises to simulate incidents and ensure they can be resolved seamlessly when the time comes.

An example of one such situation was on Christmas Day 2024, when helicopters from the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces were used in a maritime operation led by the Helsinki Police Department.
The Police’s Karhu Special Intervention Unit and the Finnish Border Guard's Special Intervention Unit rappelled from helicopters onto a ship's deck and took control of the vessel in the night between Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Even the most challenging situations cannot catch the authorities off guard when they practise and prepare for them.

“The ability of Finnish authorities to work together is unique on an international level. Close cooperation with international partners is also essential in today’s complex security environment,” says Chief Inspector Juha Hietala, head of the Karhu Special Intervention Unit.

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Police will have a visible presence to secure May Day celebrations

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:30:00 GMT

Several traditional events and demonstrations will be held on May Day Eve and May Day. The police will secure the demonstrations and direct traffic.

The traditional placing of a student cap on Havis Amanda’s head will take place at at 18.00 on 30 April near the Market Square. The Esplanade Park and side streets will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from 14.00 to 20.00.

On May Day Eve and May Day, it is not recommended to travel by car in central Helsinki.

"The city centre is expected to fill up with people starting from the Manta statue cap ritual. The police will direct pedestrians arriving to the area via the esplanades. In addition to the events, the police will monitor the safety of public places and prevent any disturbances or crimes, says Chief Superintendent Jarmo Heinonen of the Helsinki Police Department.

May Day parades will affect traffic

The SAK May Day parade will affect traffic on May 1 from approximately 11.30 to 13.00. The parade route is Siltasaarenkatu – Unioninkatu – Pohjoisesplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Kansalaistori.
The Jesus March will start on May 1 at Salomonkatu at 13.00. The procession will follow the route Salomonkatu – Mannerheimintie – Eteläesplanadi – Fabianinkatu – Pohjoisesplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Salomonkatu.

Helsingin Youth assistance operation to meet young people in central Helsinki

The police, emergency services, youth services and other partners will be at places popular with young people, such as Kaivopuisto, schoolyards and beaches.

The City of Helsinki Youth Services organises the operation. Partners include the Helsinki Police Department, emergency services, the Helsinki and Uusimaa Red Cross, the Saapas youth work program of the Church of Finland, and Children of the Station.

"We hope that guardians of minors will keep track of their children's movements and talk to them. We ask that guardians answer calls from unknown numbers, as the caller may be the police," Heinonen reminds us.

The police remind young people to look out for their friends and guardians to discuss their plans for May Day with their children.

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Police suspect two cleaning companies of charging excessive fees for employment contracts and entry into Finland

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:54:00 GMT

A cleaning entrepreneur from the Philippines is suspected of requiring cleaners coming from the Philippines to Finland to pay excessive and unjustified fees for employment contracts and immigration arrangements. Such fees are considered entry fees. Some people have also been charged such a fee even though the company did not offer work or employment. The cleaners coming to Finland were charged entry fees of around €4,000–€5,000. The offences took place from 2021 to 2024.

The company’s activities are under investigation on several counts of suspected aggravated usury and facilitation of illegal entry into Finland. The case is being passed to the prosecutor for the consideration of charges.

In addition, some of the cleaners were forced to sign a zero-hours employment contract upon arriving in Finland. They were not offered the number of working hours or level of earnings guaranteed by the employer when they applied for a residence permit, which is based on the said hours and earnings.

The company continued recruiting despite having no work to offer

The company continued to recruit cleaners, although it had no intention or actual opportunity to offer work at a later stage to the people who had received residence permits. Consequently, the company is suspected of facilitating illegal entry into Finland. People have obtained Finnish residence permits based on untrue or misleading information.

Approximately 20 people who received a residence permit via the cleaning company never did any work for the company. Police have been in contact with around 30 people who paid entry fees or other charges. One person has been imprisoned and another has been arrested in connection with the case.

In another case, a cleaning contractor recruited a significant number of cleaners from the Philippines and contributed to their residence permit applications by acting as their employer. More than 50 people were granted Finnish residence permits through the company. Almost 40 of them never did any work for the company and were never offered work by the company. The offences took place in 2021 and 2022. The activities are under investigation on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into Finland.

Both companies are based in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

– Helsinki Police Department's national human trafficking investigative team has regularly investigated cases of abuse related to the recruitment and immigration of foreign workers. It is common for people coming to work in Finland to be charged advance fees, says Senior Detective Superintendent Sami Isoniemi, who is heading the investigation.

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Police warn tourists about pickpockets in Helsinki

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:22:00 GMT

Police have observed that pickpockets operate in large groups and their activities are professional. The pickpockets are particularly interested in cash in the possession of tourists. The suspects commit crimes in groups and the stolen goods are quickly transferred from one person to another.

“Several suspected professional pickpockets have been arrested by the police. All of those arrested are foreign nationals who arrived in Finland from Eastern Europe. The suspects are being deported from Finland under the Aliens Act because they are considered a threat to public order and safety", said Detective Superintendent Jari Illukka.

The period between May and September, when there are many tourists in Helsinki, is the busiest for pickpockets. Pickpocketing is concentrated between 10.00 and 15.00.

“Police will intensify surveillance of pickpockets in Helsinki's tourist areas during the summer”, promises Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen.

How can you protect yourself from pickpockets?

Take care of your wallet or bag. Make sure they are in a safe place.
Choose where to keep your wallet carefully. Keep your wallet in a pocket that is difficult to access.
Avoid storing valuables in back pockets and the outer pockets of your backpack, where it is easy to grab things.
Put your wallet in a safe place after shopping. Do not leave your wallet on top of other items.
If you see suspicious activity, call 112. Always remember to report a crime if something is stolen from you.

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Apply for a new passport or ID card for the summer holidays the easy way - online

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:41:00 GMT

Start the process online whenever you need a new passport or ID card. When you submit an application, you can also easily book an appointment for identification purposes at your nearest police station if this is necessary.

New appointment slots are constantly being added to the appointment calendar for Licence services at Helsinki Police Department, depending on the resources available.

“It’s also worth checking throughout the day for any cancellations, as these are available in the calendar almost daily. This is how, at best, you can even get an appointment for the next day," says Superintendent Jari Friman, Chief of of Licence Services at Helsinki Police Department.

“We recommend making an appointment beforehand. If you don’t have an appointment, you need to be prepared to wait for even more than an hour, depending on the day and time,” Friman adds.

It’s also slightly cheaper to apply for a passport or identity card online than obtaining a travel document in person at a police station.

Three steps towards a smooth trip abroad

Have a passport photo taken. The photo attached to the application may not be more than 6 months old.
Start applying for a passport or ID card online at asiointi.poliisi.fi
If the system tells you that you need to visit a police station for identification purposes for your new travel document, book an appointment in the police's e-service. Remember to cancel your appointment if you can't make it.

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President of Ukraine visit means exceptional traffic arrangements in Helsinki city centre

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:56:00 GMT

Several motorcades will be moving around the Helsinki Metropolitan Area during the day. The motorcades will cause temporary disruptions to traffic, especially in Helsinki city centre.

The police will carry out aviation operations during the visit and this may cause temporary noise nuisance.

Waterway transport and aviation will also be restricted

The Market Square will be closed on Wednesday 25 March. Likewise, Eteläesplanadi will also be closed to traffic in front of the Market Square. All traffic will be redirected via Aleksanterinkatu.

Suomenlinna ferry traffic will operate from the Suomenlinna service ferry pier in Katajanokka. Access will be blocked to the South Harbour for private water traffic. This block will not apply to cruise traffic from the Olympia Terminal and the Katajanokka Terminal to Tallinn and Stockholm. On Pohjoisranta, access will be blocked in the area south of Halkolaituri.

Public transport will also be affected by the traffic arrangements. You can find information about changes to public transport on the HSL website at https://www.hsl.fi/.

“We recommend not driving in Helsinki city centre on Wednesday. Changes to traffic arrangements will in particular affect Helsinki city centre and the area around the Market Square. Drivers should be prepared for brief traffic disruptions caused by motorcades,” says Chief Inspector Pasi Tuominen at Helsinki Police Department.

Aviation will be restricted for the duration of the visit and a temporary airspace restriction in the area will be in force from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 March. More details about the restricted airspace is available on droneinfo.fi. and flyk.com.

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Joint monitoring reduces public transport disruption in Helsinki

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:45:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department and stakeholders have observed an increase in public transport disruptions and violent behaviour of customers towards officials and security personnel in recent years.

From 7 February to 1 March 2025, the Helsinki Police Department intensified its surveillance of public transport together with HSL ticket inspectors and VR commuter train conductors. The aim of the joint monitoring effort was to improve both the occupational safety of ticket inspectors and conductors and to enhance passengers' sense of security when using public transport.

“Cooperation between ticket inspectors and the police has always gone really well. Ticket checks are smoother when the police are there to calm things down. It also speeds up the identification process, as there is no need to call the police in situations where passengers refuse to present a reliable proof of their identity to the inspector," says Satu Koskinen, Head of HSL's Ticket Inspection Unit.

Joint monitoring has proven to be an effective means of maintaining a safe and peaceful travel environment. Visible surveillance sends a message to passengers that disorderly behaviour and fare evasion are consistently addressed.

“Visible preventive control is always the most desirable form of policing, also in public transport stations and vehicles. From our and our passengers' point of view, visible police surveillance is a very welcome addition to our own security efforts," says Juhana Hietaranta, Head of Security at Helsinki Metropolitan Public Transport Ltd.

During the joint surveillance, there were fewer incidents of threats and violence than usual, and any disturbances were quickly resolved on the spot.

“We received positive feedback from passengers, ticket inspectors and conductors. The presence of the police was perceived as a safety factor. Information sharing, a common situational picture and coordination of activities increase the effectiveness of surveillance work. The sharing of information, a common situational picture, and coordinated operations all contribute to more effective monitoring,” says Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen of the Helsinki Police Department.

In the future, public transport enforcement will continue to be data-driven, based on the police's own situational picture and feedback from stakeholders and citizens. Visible surveillance will reduce disorderly behaviour, prevent crime and speed up the investigation of crimes that have already been committed.

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Eagle S tanker to move to international waters under Border Guard's control

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:31:00 GMT

On 25 December 2024, Finland's transmission system operator Fingrid reported to the authorities that the Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia may have been damaged. The Border Guard took immediate action to investigate possible damage to critical infrastructure.

Because of a criminal suspicion involved in the matter, the police took over leadership on 25 December at 18.40. The National Police Commissioner ordered the Helsinki Police Department to assume the leadership of the special situation. The National Bureau of Investigation was responsible for the criminal investigation from the beginning.

The Border Guard and the Defence Forces provided helicopters for the field operation led by the Helsinki Police. The police special intervention unit Karhu and the special intervention unit of the Border Guard roped down from helicopters to take control of the tanker on the night between 25 and 26 December.

Criminal investigation into cable damage has progressed

As the criminal investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, including the forensic investigation on board Eagle S, has progressed, there are no longer grounds for continuing the seizure of the tanker. Therefore, the seizure was cancelled on Friday 28 February 2025. As far as the criminal investigation is concerned, the tanker is not prevented from continuing its passage to leave Finland's territorial waters.

The coercive measures taken on the tanker's crew are considered separately. On the basis of the criminal investigation, eight persons are suspected of an offence. Three persons are currently subjected to a travel ban. For five persons, the travel ban was cancelled this week. Those subjected to a travel ban may not leave the country. Their representatives in their home countries have been kept up to date.

“Swift initial action ensured that criminal investigative measures could be immediately started and carried out. In such incidents, a criminal investigation is a good way to establish what actually happened,” says Director of National Bureau of Investigation Robin Lardot.

The criminal investigation continues with further interviews of the crew and the examination of the material gathered.

The suspected offences under investigation are an aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications. The aim is to conclude the criminal investigation by the end of April.

Operation showed readiness and effective cooperation of Finnish authorities

With their capabilities, the Border Guard and the Defence Forces provided the police with significant assistance on sea and air throughout the operation. Other key actors during the operation comprise Finnish Customs and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).

The anchor of the Eagle S tanker was lifted from the seabed in a joint operation between the authorities on 6 January 2025. The Border Guard and the Finnish and Swedish Navies assisted the police in the lifting.

“The Finnish authorities took swift action and prevented any additional damage from taking place in the Gulf of Finland. The preparedness of Finnish authorities to cooperate is unique internationally. We are strong together,” says Police Chief Jari Liukku of the Helsinki Police Department.

The deficiencies detected in Traficom’s port state control inspection of Eagle S have now been rectified, and Traficom has released the ship from detention.

“Our inspectors have visited on board the ship and concluded that the deficiencies that led to the detention of the ship and the other deficiencies detected during port state control have been rectified. Therefore, Traficom has released Eagle S. Cooperation with the ship’s flag State, crew and classification society has been excellent,” says Sanna Sonninen, Maritime Director at Traficom.

Finnish Customs has detained the cargo of Eagle S to control and determine that the criteria for its import, export, transfer and transit are fulfilled.

"Customs has established that the unleaded petrol and diesel carried by the tanker are classified as goods subject to sanctions against Russia, but the import, transfer or transit does not comply with the Sectoral Sanctions Regulation. According to the information received, the cargo will be transferred from the territory of the European Union with the tanker. The detention of the cargo will lapse once the cargo has left the country," says Head of Enforcement Petri Lounatmaa of Finnish Customs.

Eagle S will leave Finland's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone under the control of the Border Guard's patrol vessel.

The operation led by the Helsinki Police will end once the Eagle S tanker has moved to international waters. After that the authorities will continue their normal duties and release information about their respective areas of responsibility themselves.

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Superintendent Simo Kauppinen appointed as Head of License Services and Foreigners Affairs' Division

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:38:00 GMT

Superintendent Kauppinen is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing the operations of the Helsinki Police Department’s License Services and Foreigners Affairs' Division.

Superintendent Kauppinen has held various positions within the police since 2010. He has served in senior roles at both the Eastern Uusimaa and Helsinki Police Departments.

At the Helsinki Police Department, he previously led the Control and Preventive Operations as well as the License Services.

Before his current appointment, Kauppinen worked as a Senior Specialist at the Crisis Management Centre Finland. He holds an advanced degree from the Police University College.

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

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:18:00 GMT

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

	2023	2024	Change
Total emergency response assignments	138,808	142,851	4,043 (2,9 %)
All offences	80,678	85,212	4,534 (5,6 %)
Licences subject to a charge handled by the police	179,231	181,053	1,822 (1,0 %)

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:

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Janne Jansson, Stadin Skoude 2025, monitors safety in Helsinki: “Work is more meaningful when its content is diverse”

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:04:00 GMT

The recipient of the Stadin Skoude recognition was announced at the Helsinki Police Department’s annual event on 13 February 2025. This year’s recognition was given to senior sergeant Janne Jansson who works in Field Operations in the Response and Control Division as field surveillance and shift manager.

“Surveillance operations are carried out wherever disturbance is encountered. If there are no specific disturbances, surveillance will be directed at other areas,” Jansson says.

For people in Helsinki, there is practically no difference between police patrols working in response and surveillance operations, but the operations differ from each other in practice. In response operations, police patrols carry out their response duties and independently initiated tasks. In contrast, surveillance patrols maintain public order and safety in Helsinki. Work is carried out with other units of the police department, as surveillance patrols also monitor requirements for residency and arrival in Finland, and make their presence seen during state visits, demonstrations and public events.

“Whenever there is an emergency response assignment, we will arrive at the location following the principle of nearest patrol similarly to response patrols,” Jansson says.

Having worked his entire police career at the Helsinki Police Department, Jansson drove patrol vehicles in southern parts of Helsinki for almost 20 years. He has worked in surveillance operations since 2020. Jansson enjoys his work, as no two days are alike.

“The range of tasks is very broad, and that’s what makes surveillance so interesting. Many recently graduated police officers may think that surveillance is boring, but there are so many things you can do.”

Cooperation between the authorities offers development opportunities

Surveillance is also carried out linked to various themes, including traffic safety and alcohol serving locations. Thematic surveillance is often carried out in cooperation with other authorities. For example, alcohol service locations may be monitored with specialists from the Regional State Administrative Agency, the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Tax Administration or the rescue department.

Jansson says that cooperation is a two-way street: you learn more about how others work and find ways to improve your own work.

“When working in the field, you often also realise what you should learn more or better. In the surveillance of residency and arrival in Finland, it’s especially important to continuously develop yourself and identify up-to-date information to keep surveillance effective and productive.”

Cooperation between the authorities also plays a significant role in the surveillance of requirements for residency and arrival in Finland.

“In this, other key elements include the prevention of cross-border crime and illegal entry in the country. Here the Finnish Border Guard is our most important partner. Close cooperation with the authorities in the Schengen Area promotes and supports the maintenance of internal security,” Jansson says.

Always something new to learn

Learning something new and self-development have always been important to Jansson. Before his police career, he was a member of the volunteer fire department, with training and courses being part of his hobby. Now he enjoys learning something new, both inside and outside the workplace.

In the criteria for the recognition, Jansson is described as a police officer who has a positive approach to changes and develops not only himself but also the operations of his shift. As a supervisor, he also likes to encourage his team members toward studies.

“In surveillance in particular, the foundation of professional competence should be as solid as possible. Even if you don’t know everything, you can still make observations, ask for advice from the right place and do your job from start to finish. If you have a long career as a police officer, work is more meaningful when its content is diverse,” Jansson says.

Safety can be affected by being seen

In everyday life in the city, surveillance patrols can mainly be seen as police patrols on city streets. According to Jansson, police officers in surveillance operations can best have an impact on safety and security by stepping out of their vehicle and taking a look around.

“The journey is important in this. You don’t go to the railway station to admire the scenery but to keep an eye on public order and safety, and to prevent crime. By being seen, you can best have an impact on safety and people’s sense of security,” he says.

With its diverse content, maintaining safety and security in Helsinki is intensive work. After closing his locker door at the end of a shift, Jansson likes to head to the nearby woods with his dogs.

“I can, say, sit on a stump and think about what to do next. This way I can relax after a hard day’s work,” Jansson says.

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Police investigate extensive data breach on Valio’s network

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:27:00 GMT

The police are investigating this extensive case as an aggravated computer break-in. The police will receive all the necessary information from Valio for the investigation, so members of the Pension Fund do not need to file a separate police report regarding the incident or contact the police.

A police report should always be filed when there is evidence of misuse or attempted misuse of personal data.

“Currently, the preliminary investigation is determining exactly what happened and how the data breach was carried out. It is advisable for everyone involved to take action to protect their own identity. In addition, tips can be useful for prevention, as the compromising of data online is on the rise,” says Detective Superintendent Lauri Huittinen.

In terms of communications, the police are responsible for information related to the criminal investigation, while Valio, as the data controller, will inform the public about what types of information have leaked from its systems and which individuals are affected.

Additional Information on the data breach

Valio’s information
My personal data has been stolen or leaked - Suomi.fi (guidelines for protecting your personal data)
0295 47 5314 (Helsinki Police Department)
vihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi (Helsinki Police Department)

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Many new appointments made available in the Helsinki Police Department’s licence services for the spring

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 07:23:00 GMT

You should always apply for a new travel document online at poliisi.fi. To have a new passport or identity card, you do not always need to visit a police station. The police’s online services will tell you if you need to visit a police station to verify your identity.

You can have your identity verified by booking an appointment or visiting licence services without any appointment. The Helsinki Police Department’s licence services are at the central police station in Pasila.

Demand for travel documents is always highest before holiday seasons. You can get ready for your spring and summer travels by booking an appointment for a new passport or identity card at the police station. Many new appointments have been made available in the Pasila licence services for the spring.

“We recommend that you book an appointment, because without it, you may have to wait for more than half an hour. During busiest days and hours, the waiting time may be longer,” says Chief Inspector Satu Mäkinen from the Helsinki Police Department’s licence services.

Typically, the Pasila licence services have the highest number of customers on Mondays and Fridays. The busiest hours are around opening and closing times at 8 am and 4 pm, as well as around lunch hours from 11 am to 1 pm.

Keep your previous travel document to pick up your new one

In the online services, you can choose the location from which to pick up your new passport or identity card. When picking up your new travel document, you need the delivery ID included in the pick-up notification, as well as a passport or identity card granted by a Finnish authority. You can use a passport or identity card expired less than a year ago to prove your identity.

You can also authorise another person to pick up your passport. In this case, the person who picks up your passport requires a power of attorney, the delivery ID and a valid Finnish passport or identity card. You can print a template of a power of attorney on the police’s website: Passport delivery.

Do this when you need a new passport or identity card

Before applying for a passport or identity card, identify what travel document you will need at your destination. You can travel to the EU member states and a few other European countries with a passport or an identity card.
Have your passport photo taken. The photo attached to your passport application cannot be older than six months.
Apply for a passport or identity card in the police’s online services. If you cannot apply for a travel document online, you can also complete an application at a police station. Online applications are quicker and carry a lower charge.
If required, verify your identity at a police station by booking an appointment or using the queue number system.
Remember to cancel your appointment if you cannot make it.
Passports, identity cards and permits
Helsinki Police Department, units and services

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Active early phase of cable investigation to be completed

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:33:00 GMT

The National Bureau of Investigation has mostly completed the forensic investigation on the Eagle S tanker, conducted the seizures required for the criminal investigation, and mostly finished the underwater investigation of the damaged spots of the cable.

– The forensic investigation of the anchor lifted from the seabed on 6 January has been completed. Considering the features of the anchor and the place where the anchor was found, the police believe that the anchor, which was lifted from the end of the dragging trace photographed in the seabed, belongs to Eagle S. On the basis of the forensic investigation, we suspect that the anchor came loose from the chain when the Finnish authorities asked the tanker's crew to lift the hanging anchor, says Tactical Leader, Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Other criminal investigative measures still continue. The members of the tanker's crew who are suspected of an offence are interviewed further, and the seized material is still analysed. The suspected offences, assessed together with the National Prosecution Authority, are aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications. The National Prosecution Authority will be informed of the progress of the investigation.

– During the criminal investigation, the National Bureau of Investigation has been able to form a relatively accurate picture of what happened in the Gulf of Finland on Christmas Day. The investigation focuses, for example, on assessing intent, in other words, why and how the anchor ended up hanging from the tanker and what was done on the tanker at the time. The criminal investigation aims to establish these facts with the means available to the investigation, Risto Lohi says.

The criminal investigation also aims to establish whether the crew should have noticed and reacted to the fact that the anchor was hanging outside the vessel for a passage of up to a hundred kilometres. The authorities also examine the information about the status of the anchor they received from the tanker. Another aim is to establish what the reason for the vessel's unusual movements identified by the automatic identification system (AIS) was.

The police estimate that the criminal investigation will continue for several months. The leadership of the investigation will assess the need for coercive measures throughout the investigation, as well as whether the measures taken are sufficient and comprehensive enough. The tanker is currently under seizure, and the police have nine suspects, who have been subjected to a travel ban.

Early this week, the crew members who have not been subjected to a travel ban were replaced.

To secure the criminal investigation, the joint operation between the authorities continues. It is led by the Helsinki Police Department and supported by the Border Guard. The National Bureau of Investigation assumes responsibility for the criminal investigation.

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Traffic has returned to normal in Helsinki

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:19:00 GMT

The police thanks citizens for their patience with traffic disruptions related to safety measures

The convoys of summit guests caused traffic jams and disruptions in Helsinki as well as on the main routes between Helsinki city center and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

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Baltic Sea NATO Allies Summit to affect traffic in Helsinki

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:40:00 GMT

Motorcades of Summit guests might cause traffic jams and disruptions, mostly in the Helsinki City Centre and on main roads between Helsinki Airport and the City Centre.

Minor effects on traffic are expected as of Monday afternoon 13 January.

On Tuesday 14 January, the Summit arrangements will have a major impact on traffic in the Helsinki City Centre from morning until afternoon, especially in the vicinity of the Market Square.

– People should avoid driving in the City Centre on Tuesday as there might be traffic disruptions. If you must use a car, allow time for travelling, says Superintendent Dennis Pasterstein of the Helsinki Police Department.

Traffic arrangements will not affect public transport to a significant extent. Information about any changes and disruptions can be found at the HSL website https://www.hsl.fi/.

The arrangements will not affect the ferry traffic from Olympia or Katajanokka Terminals or the Suomenlinna ferry service.

Aviation will be restricted for the duration of the Summit. There will be a temporary airspace restriction in the area on 14 January from 7.00 to 19.00. The restricted area can be checked at droneinfo.fi and flyk.com 12 hours before the start of restrictions at the earliest.

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Forensic analysis of the anchor hoisted from Gulf of Finland started

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:03:00 GMT

The criminal investigation into the cable ruptures in the Gulf of Finland continues today with the forensic analysis of the anchor.

- The anchor is undergoing a technical examination, including steps to confirm that it belongs to the tanker Eagle S, explains Tactical Leader, Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The anchor raised during the joint operation by authorities on 06 January measures approximately 4 meters in length, 2.5 meters in width, and it weighs 11 tons.

The technical examination will focus on the question when the anchor became detached from its chain. The location where the anchor was found is near the place where Finnish authorities instructed the tanker Eagle S to raise the anchor it had been dragging.

- If the anchor only came loose during the hoisting, it is likely that the anchor could have caused further damage to the seabed infrastructure if the vessel had continued its journey, says Lohi.

The sequence of events leading up to the ruptures is already quite clear in a technical sense to the police, but there is still a lot of technical data storage media to be analysed.

Underwater investigations have determined the length of the drag trace on the seabed to be approximately 100 kilometres. The police continue to analyse the drag trace.

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation in the Gulf of Finland, and the Border Guard and Defence Forces are contributing to the carrying out of the operation. The National Bureau of Investigation is in charge of conducting the criminal investigation.

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Anchor allegedly involved in cable ruptures on Christmas day recovered in Gulf of Finland

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:10:00 GMT

The investigation into the cable rupture in the Gulf of Finland has progressed over the weekend. Yesterday afternoon, 06 January, an anchor suspected by the police to belong to the tanker Eagle S was retrieved from the Gulf of Finland.

– The location where the anchor was found is along the Eagle S’s route, at the level of the Porkkala Peninsula. The anchor was located towards the western end of the drag trace found on the seabed, near the point where the trace ends, explains Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi of the NBI.

The authorities located the anchor in a joint operation during the night between Sunday and Monday 06 January, and after that preparations for its recovery began. The anchor was raised to the surface after 17:00 yesterday.

– We are pleased that the anchor was found. It will contribute to the progress of the criminal investigation, and it is now subjected to forensic analysis, says Lohi.

The hauling operation in the Gulf of Finland was carried out in cooperation with the authorities. The police and the Border Guard were assisted by both the Defence Forces and the Swedish Navy in connection with the underwater diving and hoisting operation.

– The cooperation between the authorities in the investigation into the case has been excellent, and this is a very good starting point for continuing the criminal investigation," says Lohi.

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation in the Gulf of Finland, and the Border Guard Service and the Defence Forces are contributing to the carrying out of the operation. The NBI is in charge of conducting the criminal investigation.

Image of the anchor on the seabed. Image captured by Turva’s ROV, Border Guard

Side-scan sonar image of the anchor. Image captured by Belos’ ROV, Border Guard

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Underwater investigation of the cable ruptures nearly complete

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:28:00 GMT

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is about to complete undersea investigations.

– The seabed imaging has largely been completed, says Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the NBI.

The repair work of the ruptured cables has started, and at the same time, samples are collected for forensic analysis.

Investigative measures have been continued on board of the Eagle S on Friday. Eight crew members remain under a travel ban.

Maintenance work has been carried out on the vessel again today, For example, more food has been provided for the crew.

The Helsinki District Court has today upheld the decision on the seizure of the Eagle S, initially seized by the police. The matter was brought before the district court after the vessel's owner requested the seizure to be lifted.

International cooperation in the investigation

In the course of the criminal investigation, the NBI has been cooperating closely with foreign countries, for example, with the authorities of the Cook Islands i.e. the flag state of the tanker Eagle S, who carry out their own measures in respect to the vessel.

– Cooperation with the Cook Islands has concerned details of the vessel, explains Katajamäki.

The authorities also cooperate with Sweden in completing the investigative measures taken on the seabed.

– In the course of the investigation of the seabed, such areas have been identified that may be suitable for possible locations where the anchor may have fallen off. Those areas will be investigated in more detail, says Katajamäki.

The Defence Forces also provide assistance to the case.

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation, and the Border Guard is contributing to the carrying out of the operation. The NBI is in charge of conducting the criminal investigation.

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Underwater investigations restarted in the Gulf of Finland

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

The National Bureau of Investigation continues investigative measures on board the tanker Eagle S, which is anchored in the inner anchorage of Svartbeck near the oil port of Kilpilahti in Porvoo. A crime scene investigation in underway, and the interviews of the staff continue today. Furthermore, seven staff members whose status in the criminal investigation is that of a suspect have been subjected to a travel ban.

– A travel ban is a less severe coercive measure limiting personal freedom than apprehension and arrest, and it is imposed to ensure that the criminal investigation is not compromised and that the parties can be reached during the investigation. However, further information is gathered as the investigation goes on, so it is possible that the number of those subjected to a travel ban will change, says Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Besides the investigative measures on the tanker, the authorities have restarted their underwater investigations in the Gulf of Finland. The investigations are being carried out in the vicinity of the previously photographed dragging track.

The joint operation between the authorities in the Gulf of Finland is led by the Helsinki Police Department and supported by the Border Guard. The operation continues for as long as required by the investigation, however for several days.

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Cable ruptures also investigated as offences of aggravated interference of communications

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:47:00 GMT

The operation launched by the authorities on Christmas Day, 25 December in the Baltic Sea has continued today with various investigative actions. The operation will continue for as long as it is necessary for the purposes of the criminal investigation.

– The operation relating to the events in the Gulf of Finland will go on for several more days, explains Superintendent Heikki Porola of the Helsinki Police Department.

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation, and the Border Guard Service is contributing to the carrying out of the operation.

The National Bureau of Investigation is responsible for criminal investigation into the ruptured sea cables. The suspected offences are aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference of communications, of which the latter was filed on Saturday, 28 December. Ruptures caused to telecommunications cables are suspected meet the essential elements of the offence of aggravated interference of communications. It is possible that the offences will become more specific or even change as the criminal investigation progresses.

The National Bureau of Investigation has continued taking investigative measures and questioning of crew members on the Eagle S tanker today, Monday 30 December. The purpose is to create an overall picture of what has happened on the board, and the questionings have been carried out in good cooperation with the crew.

– The authorities have taken care of the maintenance of both the vessel and the crew during the investigation, says Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the National Bureau of Investigation.

In addition, the police have seized devices related to the vessel's passage, and the data contained in them is being analysed.

Due to difficult weather conditions, for example, the subsea investigation has been suspended today, continues Katajamäki.

The criminal investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation is in its initial stage and it may take several weeks or months to complete.

Photos: For example, the underwater portion of the hull of the tanker Eagle has been depicted in the subsea investigation. On the left side of the vessel, near the bow, there are several fresh paint scrapes and impact marks made by the anchor chain. Photo: Border Guard

Links to the previous press releases:

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National Bureau of Investigation continues investigation into cable rupture

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 17:00:00 GMT

The Eagle S tanker was escorted yesterday, on Saturday, 28 December, with the assistance of the Border Guard, to the inner anchorage Svartbäck in the vicinity of the gulf of Sköldvik. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has continued investigation on board the vessel.

The on-board operations on the Eagle S tanker have continued. However, the poor weather conditions at the anchorage today have hindered the operations. Technical investigation is carried out on board, and currently the focus is on the questioning of the crew.

The bad weather has also been challenging for the patrol vessel Turva and the underwater operations carried out by the NBI investigators. The underwater operations had to be discontinued today.

– With the underwater operations, we have been able to identify the dragging track at the seabed from the beginning to the end. The track is dozens of kilometres in length. For the time being, the possible location where the anchor came off has not been established, says the Tactical Leader, Detective Chief Inspector Sami Paila from the NBI.

With the help of the investigative measures on board the Eagle S tanker and the underwater on-site investigation the police want to be able to form an accurate picture of the incidents in the Gulf of Finland.

The operation is led by Helsinki Police Department and supported by the Border Guard. The NBI is responsible for leading the criminal investigation.

The authorities have worked in close cooperation which will continue.

Picture1: Underwater investigation is assisted by an underwater ROV

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Eagle S tanker successfully transferred to Porvoo

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:52:00 GMT

The transfer of the tanker was completed as planned.

The transfer was made, because the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have seized the vessel. The new location is to secure investigative measures taken in the criminal investigation.

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The police transfer tanker Eagle S to Kilpilahti on Saturday

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:53:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department leads the operation, with the Border Guard supporting the police in ensuring the operation is carried out safely. The transfer operation begins on Saturday, 28 December, at approximately 10:50. The Eagle S tanker will be guided by two pilots and escort tugboats Svartbeck, an inner anchorage near the Port of Kilpilahti. The Border Guard will secure the operation with a patrol vessel and several patrol boat units.

The reason for the transfer is that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has seized Eagle S. From the point of view of the police, the new location offers a better option for carrying out investigative measures. On-board operations by the authorities will be suspended for the time of the transfer and resumed once the vessel is at anchor.

Under the Police Act, the police have set up a one-nautical-mile exclusion zone around the tanker to ensure operational safety of the authorities. A no-fly zone is currently in effect around Sköldvik Bay.

Inquiries regarding the transfer may be directed to the Helsinki Police Department and the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District.

The NBI will provide updates on the progress of the criminal investigation as significant new information becomes available.

Eagle S and the Border Guard helicopter

Eagle S, the Border Guard helicopter and a patrol boat

Eagle S and the Border Guard helicopter - hoisting underway

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Gulf of Finland cable rupture: Investigation of the seabed underway

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department is leading the multi-agency operation that has been ongoing around the clock for two days

The National Bureau of Investigation is responsible for the criminal investigation into the ruptured sea cables, with the suspected offense being aggravated criminal mischief.

The criminal investigation and other investigative measures in the maritime area are still ongoing.

Police and Border Guard tactical units secure criminal investigation on board

The purpose of the criminal investigation is to look into the involvement of the cargo ship Eagle S in the cable rupture in the Gulf of Finland on 25 December. A Finnish Defence Forces Rauma-class missile boat and the Border Guard patrol vessel Uisko operate in the area.

The criminal investigation on the vessel is secured by the police rapid response unit Karhu and the Border Guard tactical team.

The Finnish Defence Forces and Border Guard helicopters have transported staff members of the authorities to and from the vessel.

– Investigative measures have been taken on the vessel, including collecting material. Analysis of that material is already on the way. Interviewing members of the crew has also been in the focus of the investigation. Although we needed to move fast at the start of the criminal investigation, it is ultimately a question of a challenging and time-consuming process, says Tactical Leader, Detective Chief Inspector Sami Paila.

Customs detained the fuel cargo on board

The Border Guard is supporting the police in the investigation of the seabed. That is why the patrol vessel Turva is heading to the site of the Estlink 2 cable rupture today, 27 December, to conduct underwater investigation. Investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation are participating in the crime scene investigation aboard the patrol vessel Turva.

– The Border Guard is supporting the police with equipment and personnel suitable for maritime operations. Current circumstances allow for full-scale operations in the Gulf of Finland, says Deputy Commander of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard Mikko Hirvi.

In addition to the criminal investigation conducted by the police, Customs is making preliminary inquiries on-site in regard to a suspected aggravated regulation offence and is looking into details concerning the cargo.

– Customs has detained the vessel's cargo of fuel and is continuing the preliminary inquiries related to a possible aggravated regulation offence, explains Director of Enforcement Hannu Sinkkonen.

Edited 27.12. at 2:45 pm. Mr. Sinkkonen's name has been added to the end of the press release.

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Police investigating incidents in the Gulf of Finland in cooperation with other authorities

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:42:00 GMT

The police, in cooperation with other authorities, are investigating the rupture of the Estlink 2 power transmission cable within Finland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday, 25 December, 2024. The police are also looking into other possible damages in the maritime area.

Due to actions taken by the authorities, Eagle S, a tanker registered in the Cook Islands, entered Finland's territorial waters. The vessel’s involvement in causing the rupture is under investigation.

The Helsinki Police Department and the Border Guard have conducted a tactical operation on the vessel. The authorities have taken investigative measures on the vessel, with access there provided by the Finnish Border Guard and the Defence Forces helicopters.

At this stage, the case is being investigated as aggravated criminal mischief. In this respect, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is responsible for leading the criminal investigation. Customs is making preliminary inquiries on-site in regard to an aggravated regulation violation and is looking into details concerning the cargo.

For the purposes of the criminal investigation, the police are working closely and exchanging information with Estonian authorities.

The police are investigating the incidents, and more information on the case will be provided as soon as possible.

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Police Exercise with the Defense Forces in Helsinki

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:51:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department will lead the exercise. This is an annual planned exercise aimed at developing concrete cooperation.

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Police will secure the high-level conference in Helsinki

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 07:54:00 GMT

The meeting causes temporary changes in traffic arrangements in the capital region.

More information:

Prime Minister Orpo and Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal to meet in Helsinki - Finnish Government (valtioneuvosto.fi)

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The police are conducting a security inspection in the area of the Russian Embassy at the request of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Helsinki

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:59:00 GMT

With the consent of the sending state, the police may investigate suspected crimes or incidents that threaten the security of the diplomatic mission within the premises of the embassy.

Today, on October 3rd, the police are conducting a security-related inspection in the area of Russian embassy at the request of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Helsinki. The inspection started aroun 17:30. There is no threat to public in this situation

The police have good daily collaboration with embassies on various security-related matters.

The police are unable to comment further on the matter.

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A demonstration may cause significant traffic disruption in Helsinki

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:32:00 GMT

A demonstration may cause significant and long-term traffic disruption in Helsinki. The police recommend allocating time for moving around downtown. The police can direct traffic to alternative routes if necessary.

“The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki,”, says Superintendent Jere Roimu.

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Suspects collected kickbacks from nurses for arrival in Finland – some injured parties became indebted due to the payments

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT

In 2021, a Finnish healthcare company purchased recruitment services from a recruitment agency. The aim was to recruit 1,000 healthcare employees in Finland from Ethiopia. The recruitment agency signed an outsourcing service agreement with the prime suspect. The suspect was living in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

“When the employees arrived in Finland, the employer and recruitment agency discovered that some of the nurses had been forced to make an advance payment for their arrival in Finland. The injured parties paid thousands of euros to the prime suspect and their company in Ethiopia,” says Sami Isoniemi, senior detective superintendent and lead investigator.

The act is under investigation as usury in a case between contracting partners. According to the pre-trial investigation, the agreement’s content remained unclear for the injured parties, and there were no grounds for the payments.

The recruitment agency has provided information about the shortcomings discovered publicly, and the police does not suspect the agency or its employees of any crime. The company terminated the outsourcing service agreement with the prime suspect when the suspected crime was discovered.

Kickback payments equalled wages of several years

The police first suspected that the prime suspect had collected kickbacks from a few employees. During the pre-trial investigation, it was discovered that payments were demanded from all nurses arrived from Ethiopia.

The kickback was EUR 4,000 per person. This amount equals wages of several years in Ethiopia. In Finland, it would correspond to roughly EUR 200,000 of earned income.

“Several injured parties have become indebted due to the high kickbacks,” lead investigator Sami Isoniemi says.

Based on the pre-trial investigation, a single kickback was divided into two instalments. The first and smaller instalment was paid to an Ethiopian company, whereas the second was paid directly to bank accounts used by the prime suspect.

During the pre-trial investigation, the police gathered evidence of the payments and found that the first payments came in at the same time as the outsourcing service agreement entered into force.

The suspects exploited the injured parties’ financial difficulties

A few dozen injured parties have already reported to the police. According to the police’s estimates, there are some 200 people in Ethiopia who only paid part of the kickback and have never arrived in Finland.

The prime suspect concealed the arrangements in Ethiopia from the healthcare company and recruitment agency. The agreement between the companies and the prime suspect separately prevented any collection of payments from individuals recruited to work in Finland.

“The prime suspect established a consulting company in Ethiopia with another suspect living there. Nurses entered into a written agreement with the company, agreeing upon recruitment-related services and a payment charged for them,” says lead investigator Sami Isoniemi.

Based on the pre-trial investigation, the suspects exploited the injured parties’ financial difficulties and lack of knowledge. The injured parties were in a disadvantaged position relative to their contracting partner. The services provided by the suspects were also out of proportion to the kickbacks paid.

In the criminal case, two other people living outside Finland are suspected in addition to the prime suspect. During the pre-trial investigation, the Helsinki Police Department was engaged in official administrative cooperation with Ethiopia and an EU Member State.

“When conducting the pre-trial investigation, we also determined that, in accordance with preliminary estimates, the suspected offence is also punishable by Ethiopian law,” says lead investigator Sami Isoniemi.

Kickbacks are a deep-rooted problem in several sectors

The completed pre-trial investigation involved the largest number of injured parties in all kickback cases investigated by the Police of Finland.

“The national human trafficking investigative team of the Helsinki Police Department is investigating two other kickback cases, involving the cleaning and construction sectors. The injured parties are from countries regarding which there have not previously been any pre-trial investigations for kickbacks in Finland,” says senior detective superintendent Sami Isoniemi.

What all these kickback cases have in common is that the amounts collected have been unreasonably high. The contracting parties exploit the injured parties’ ignorance, carelessness or financial difficulties.

Kickbacks range in different countries from a few thousands to tens of thousands of euros. The suspects claim that the payments are required for employment contract fees, an easier arrival in Finland, and consulting services.

“The authorities have been better aware of the size of this phenomenon, as a result of which the pre-trial investigation authorities also obtain more information about it. While some victims go quiet about the phenomenon, people are increasingly realising that this type of activity is illegal. This is a deep-rooted large-scale problem, which can be seen in almost all sectors, in which people come to work in Finland from other countries. Kickbacks are a particular issue in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Balkans,” senior detective superintendent Sami Isoniemi says.

A few years ago, the Ostrobothnia Police Department uncovered a criminal case, in which kickbacks were collected from Vietnamese greenhouse workers. The national human trafficking investigative team of the Helsinki Police Department and the National Bureau of Investigation also participated in the pre-trial investigation.

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A demonstration may cause significant traffic disruption in Helsinki

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:23:00 GMT

“The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki,”, says Superintendent Jari Friman.

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A demonstration may cause significant traffic disruption in Helsinki

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:04:00 GMT

“The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki”, says Superintendent Jarmo Heinonen.

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Police to exercise in Helsinki, Espoo and Sipoo

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:09:00 GMT

Explosives and training ammunition will be used in the exercise. This may cause noise during the daytime in the Kauklahti area of Espoo.

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Police to practise with the Finnish Border Guard

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 07:04:00 GMT

A helicopter of the Finnish Border Guard will participate in the exercise. Explosives and training ammunition will be used in the exercise.

During the exercise, police personnel and vehicles will be moving in the region. This is a cooperative exercise in accordance with the annual plan.

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Police Day will feature events in Helsinki in three place

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 05:10:00 GMT

This year’s tradition of the national Police Day takes place in three different locations in Helsinki. The event will be held on Kansalaistori, the Itis Shopping Centre and Ylä-Malmin tori, on 10 August at 12 noon–3 pm.

All the event sites will feature Police equipment and plenty of police officers for people to talk to. This year’s theme is “Online Conveniences and Threats,” which is a theme that will allow the people to talk to police officers about how to use the internet safely and about how to protect yourself from online crime.

“We consider events like this, where we can talk to the citizens about safety and their sense of security. Police Day is an excellent opportunity to tell people about the different police functions and what they do. It is the job of the Police to be where the people are,” says Jari Liukku, Police Chief at Helsinki Police Department.

Police quad-bikes, bikes, police cars and bicycles will be available at the event sites, along with the Police Lion. Musicians from the Helsinki Police Band will be playing music in small groups at each site during 2–3 pm. Mounted police will make appearances at the event sites as follows:

Ylä-Malmin tori 12 noon–1 pm
Tallinnanaukio 2–3 pm
Kansalaistori 12:30–2:30 pm

Additionally, the Police’s Permit Services will be bringing their identification van to Ylä-Malmin tori, where you will be able to provide your fingerprints for a travel document. Please remember to complete and pay the document online in advance.

What do you value about the police?

This year, the police are thinking about values. Our goal is to identify the most important values that guide the police and reinforce them in late 2024. During Police Day, customers have an opportunity to tell the police what they expect from Finland’s police force and what kinds of things they value about the police.

The Police do an important job in society, and success requires that their operations are based not only on laws and regulations, but a strong set of values as well. Trust is a requirement for police activities that must be earned through each situation and customer encounter – in accordance with Police values.

Police Day events will be held on 10 August in various towns and cities in Finland. Read about the events and their themes on social media with the hashtags #PoliisinPäivä, #PolisensDag and #PoliceDay. Further information on all national events is available on poliisi.fi: Police Day – Police Day is an event organised by the police for citizens – Police

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Demonstration causes significant traffic disruptions in Helsinki on Friday

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:35:00 GMT

Elokapina has also announced a demonstration for Sunday, June 30, in which four processions intend to march to Hakaniemi Bridge. The processions are scheduled to start at approximately 1:15 PM. Two processions are expected to arrive via Sörnäisten Rantatie and two via Pohjoisranta to Hakaniemi Bridge, where the demonstration is expected to continue until 7 PM.

“The police always negotiate with the organiser of the demonstration to ensure that the demonstration would not cause unreasonable disturbance to other citizens. If the demonstration is carried out in significant violation of the law, endangers public order and safety, or obstructs traffic, the police may interfere with the course of the event by issuing instructions and orders or, ultimately, by ending the demonstration”, says Superintendent Heikki Porola.

The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki.

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The Pride parade will have an impact on traffic arrangements in the Helsinki city centre on Saturday

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:24:00 GMT

The Helsinki Pride 2024 parade will take place on Saturday, 29 June 2024.

The Pride parade will have a significant impact on traffic in the area of the Helsinki city centre. All other traffic will be rerouted from the parade route.

Participants will gather on the Senate Square at 10 a.m., and the parade will start moving at noon.
The parade route is Senate Square – Aleksanterinkatu – Mannerheimintie – Pohjoisesplanadi – Fabianinkatu – Eteläinen makasiinikatu – Kasarmikatu – Neitsytpolku– Kaivopuisto.

The parade is estimated to end at 4 p.m.

The parade will affect other traffic especially around the Senate Square, in Mannerheimintie, and from Esplanadi to Kaivopuisto. Those headed for South Harbour or the Katajanokka Harbour are advised to drive via Sörnäinen and Pohjoisranta.

“The police will ensure the peaceful progress of the event and public order throughout the day,” says Superintendent Henri Helminen from the Helsinki Police Department.

All Pride Week events and the parade on Saturday are organised by the Helsinki Pride Community association. The organiser has made traffic arrangements related to the event in collaboration with the City of Helsinki and the Helsinki Police Department.

Updates on the event will be posted on poliisi.fi.

Aviation will be restricted in Kaivopuisto

In the center of Helsinki, there are three areas where aviation is permanently prohibited: Meilahti, Munkkiniemi, and Kruununhaka.

Aviation will be restricted in the centre of Helsinki on Independence Day between 10 am and 10 pm. This restriction applies to both manned and unmanned aviation (drones). The temporary restriction zone will be established to safeguard the authorities’ aviation activities and the public events to be held in the area.

The authorities will have significant aviation activities in the area on Independence Day, and compliance with the restriction will be monitored closely. Any violations will be subject to a fine, and equipment may also be ordered forfeit to the State as an instrument of crime. We request professional and non-professional operators to understand the situation. No drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles can be operated in the area marked on the map.

These restrictions do not apply to the military, border guard, police, customs, maritime or aviation authorities, or rescue, paramedic or patient transport services, or their flight operations, when the fulfilment of the duties assigned to these authorities requires flight operations in the area. Furthermore, these restrictions do not apply to emergency air ambulance operations or flights that are based on an international obligation binding on Finland.

The police would like to remind every flight operator that they are obligated to comply with the flight restrictions in the area. More information about the restriction zones is available at droneinfo.fi and flyk.com.

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Demonstrations may cause significant traffic disruption in Helsinki

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:40:00 GMT

Demonstrations may cause significant and long-term traffic disruptions in Helsinki this week. The police recommend allowing extra time for travel in the city center. The police may redirect traffic to alternative routes if necessary.

The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki.

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Police to exercise with international partners in Pirkanmaa 10th – 14th June 2024

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 08:14:00 GMT

The exercise hosted and led by Finland, will involve 17 special police units from different European countries. During the exercise will be helicopter flight activity daily 11th – 13th June between 8.00-16.00 hours. Training ammunition will be used during the exercise in areas reserved for the exercise in Tampere, Isosaari and Mänttä-Vilppula.

The exercise is part of the ATLAS Network cooperation between the internal security authorities of the European Union. Finland's NATO membership emphasises the importance of international multi-authority cooperation.

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A demonstration may cause significant traffic disruption in Helsinki

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:48:00 GMT

Extinction Rebellion will demonstrate in the centre of Helsinki on Friday 7 June from 13.00. The police were notified of the demonstration on Thursday. According to the notification, the demonstration will consist of four different processions.

The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki.

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Police to supervise end of school celebrations in Helsinki

Thu, 30 May 2024 05:27:00 GMT

The police will be out and about in places popular with young people, such as parks and beaches, as well as the yards of daycare centres and schools. The aim is to prevent disturbances and accidents, and young people from becoming victims of crime. Active supervision will be carried out in cooperation with, for example, social services and youth services.

The police aim to ensure that no young person becomes a victim of crime

“The past few years have shown that even though the partying has mostly been peaceful, as the evening gets darker, the places where people gather become unsafe. Some partygoers are very intoxicated and the risk of crime and disturbances increases considerably,” says Chief Inspector Katja Nissinen at Helsinki Police Department.

On the end of school Saturday in 2023, the police cleared Kaivopuisto park, where thousands of underage young people had gathered late at night. The police had become aware of incidents where young people had let off fireworks at each other and had thrown bottles. The park was cleared to maintain public order and safety, and to protect against crime and disturbance.

“The police have had to intervene in fights and disturbances in places such as Hietaniemi beach and Kaivopuisto park. Our job is not to prevent young people from partying and enjoying their evening, but to ensure that no young person ends up a victim of crime or is seriously injured,” Nissinen points out.

The police will intensify surveillance in the above-mentioned places and ensure that the evening is spent safely. If disturbances and incidents increase significantly during the evening, the police may clear the areas. There are always legitimate reasons for clearing parks and public areas.

The police will crack down on the consumption of alcohol by minors, and inspect at the most traditional places where people gather to party already in the early evening. The police will intervene in young people's alcohol consumption by, for example, disposing of alcoholic beverages in the possession of minors. One of the ways the police deal with young people's alcohol consumption is by disposing of their drinks. If a minor is in possession of alcohol, the police can write a fine and inform the guardian and the child welfare authority. In addition to possession of alcohol, other key control issues include drugs and bladed weapons.

A lot of safe adults will be out and about in the city during the night

In addition to the police and emergency services, youth work professionals and volunteers, such as representatives of the Finnish Red Cross, Saapas operations and the City of Helsinki Youth Service, will be out and about among young people on Saturday. All actors will be out and about to ensure that young people have a safe evening and that help is close at hand. In an emergency situation, always call 112.

Parents of minors and young people are urged to find out about their children’s plans. During the evening, it is a good idea to contact the young person and make sure that everything is OK. Guardians of minors should answer calls from unknown numbers during the evening and night, as the caller may be an authority.

“The most important thing is to remember to look out for your friends and to ask for help when you need it. We would like to congratulate all school leavers and wish everyone a great start to the summer,” Nissinen sums up.

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Police investigate misuse of Traficom’s Transport Register and Positive credit register

Fri, 24 May 2024 07:32:00 GMT

Using these organizations, the intruder accessed large amounts of data from Traficom's vehicle registry and the Finnish Tax Administration's Positive credit register under false pretenses.

The intruder has obtained the full names, addresses, and personal identification numbers of both the first and second owners or holders of vehicles. The misuse concerns owners and holders whose registration number starts with the letter A within the registration number range AAA-xxx to ALJ-xxx.

“The police are investigating this extensive and complex case as an aggravated computer break-in. Through unauthorized queries, the intruder has obtained information about approximately 65,000 vehicle owners and holders from Traficom, following the agency’s previous communication practices. Additionally, the same organizations have made illegitimate requests for credit information reports on 1,800 individuals, according to Detective Superintendent Lauri Huittinen.

The case came to the attention of the customer organization and subsequently the police when an individual received an alert from the Positive credit register indicating that a financing decision query had been made using their personal identification number. The person suspected that their personal information had fallen into the wrong hands. Several private individuals have filed criminal reports related to this situation.

It is advisable for individuals to actively protect their personal information

Follow Traficom’s guidelines to check if this situation affects you.

Private individuals can review their own registry information and credit information reports requested about them through the electronic service of the Positive credit register.

Detailed and up-to-date instructions on safeguarding your personal information can be found on the Suomi.fi website.

If needed, you can contact the police using the phone number or email provided in this announcement."

More information about data breach

Misuse of data in Traficom’s Transport Register | Traficom
Credit register extracts requested from the Positive Credit Register without relevant grounds - The Positive Credit Register (vero.fi)
My personal data has been stolen or leaked - Suomi.fi
0295 47 5314 (Helsinki Police Department)
vihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi (Helsinki Police Department)

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The Helsinki Police Department will lead the joint exercise

Mon, 20 May 2024 07:23:00 GMT

The Helsinki Police Department will lead the exercise. The police are also in charge of hybrid situations before any recognisable military actions.

“The police, the Border Guard, and the Defence Forces have an excellent ability to respond to various situations together. Exercises are the most concrete way to develop cooperation,” says Chief Superintendent Juha Hietala.

Personnel and equipment from the police, the Border Guard, and the Defence Forces will be present in the exercise areas. The exercise is part of the annual plan.

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The Helsinki police will exceptionally serve passport and identity card customers over the weekend

Mon, 20 May 2024 06:30:00 GMT

The Helsinki police will exceptionally serve passport and identity card customers over the weekend of May 25–26, 2024, from 8:00 am to 3:50 pm. Service will be available only for customers with a reservation. The weekend booking opened today in the police’s electronic service.

Additionally, the Helsinki Police Department’s two identification service vehicles will participate in the Safety Day 2024 event at Helsinki Railway Square on Friday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the identification vehicles, one can provide fingerprints for travel documents. The application must be completed and paid for in advance. Identification will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The quickest way to get a new passport or identity card is to complete the application online and identify yourself at a police department if required

Before applying for a passport or identity card, identify what travel document you will need at your destination. Does the passport have to remain valid for a certain period after your trip? Do you need a visa?

You only need an identity card when going to the EU member states and a few other European countries. As a rule, travel documents are not checked when crossing the border in Schengen countries, but you need to show it when asked to do so. While no travel documents are needed when travelling in the Nordic countries, you need to prove your identity at request.

“The quickest way to get a new passport or identity card is to complete the application online and identify yourself in the licence services of the Helsinki Police Department if required. The typical waiting time with a queue number is 30–60 minutes. The busiest hours are at 8 am, between 11 am and 1 pm, and at 4 pm. Lunch hours are the most congested,” says Chief Inspector Satu Mäkinen.

If you cannot or do not want to apply for a passport or identity card online, you can also complete an application at a police station. Online applications are quicker and carry a lower charge.

Instructions for applying for travel documents in Helsinki

Before applying for a passport or identity card, identify what travel document you will need at your destination. You only need an identity card when going to the EU member states and a few other European countries.
Start to apply for a passport or identity card online.
Identify yourself at a police station if required. The quickest way to identify yourself is to use the queue number system.
Remember to cancel your booked appointment if you are unable to show up.
Passports, identity cards and permits - Police (poliisi.fi)
Helsinki Police Department, units and services - Police (poliisi.fi)

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The Police intensify surveillance of pickpockets in Helsinki's tourist areas

Tue, 14 May 2024 09:47:00 GMT

“Pickpocketing particularly targets foreign tourists in the center of Helsinki. Police observations indicate that pickpockets operate in larger groups and their actions are highly professional. They are especially interested in the cash carried by tourists,” explains Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen.

How can you protect yourself from pickpockets?

Take care of your wallet or bag. Make sure they are in a safe place.
Choose the storage place for your wallet carefully. Keep your wallet in a pocket that is difficult to access.
Avoid keeping valuables in back pockets or the outermost compartments of a backpack, as these are easy targets for thieves.
Place your wallet in a secure location after shopping. Do not leave your purse on top of other items

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Police investigate extensive data breach in Helsinki City’s computer network

Mon, 13 May 2024 11:26:00 GMT

The City of Helsinki has filed a police report stating that a data breach has targeted the City of Helsinki’s Education Division’s computer network.

The extent and impact of the data breach are being investigated in cooperation with the City of Helsinki.

“The victim of the crime is currently the City of Helsinki, from which the police will receive all necessary information for the investigation of the case. City residents do not need to contact the police”, advises the Deputy Police Commissioner Heikki Kopperoinen.

The preliminary investigation is in its early stages, and the police will provide further information as needed during the investigation.

More information about data breach

Childhood and education data breach | City of Helsinki
0295 47 5314 (Helsinki Police Department)
vihjeet.helsinki@poliisi.fi (Helsinki Police Department)

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Parades cause disruptions to traffic on May Day

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:12:00 GMT

SAK's Helsinki Workers' May Day parade affects traffic from 11.30 a.m. to 1 a.m. The route of the procession is Siltasaarenkatu – Unioninkatu – Pohjois-Esplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Kansalaistori.

The Jeesus-marssi march starts from Salomonkatu at 12 noon. The procession proceeds along the route Salomonkatu – Mannerheimintie – Eteläesplanadi – Fabianinkatu – Pohjoisesplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Salomonkatu.

"The city centre is expected to be filled with people on May Day. Traffic interruptions may occur throughout the day. As a rule, it is not advisable to drive in the centre on May Day,” says Superintendent Henri Helminen of the Helsinki Police.

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Helsinki Police to actively monitor trouble spots this spring

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:50:00 GMT

The aim of the surveillance is to increase the sense of security at the monitored locations. The monitoring is data-driven, meaning it is based on police statistics and feedback from stakeholders.

"We will deploy in public transport, at stations and in the immediate vicinity of stations. Active monitoring addresses observed disturbances, is present in people's daily lives, and enhances cooperation with stakeholders," says Commissioner Hanna Kiiskinen.

The planning and execution of the monitoring involve various parties including the City of Helsinki, mobile youth work, Youth Work on Rails, HSL, Urban Transport, VR, and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

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Police to ensure safe May Day celebrations in Helsinki

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:23:00 GMT

Several traditional events and demonstrations take place on May Day Eve and May Day. The police will ensure safety at demonstrations and direct traffic.

”We’re expecting there to be plenty of people out and about in the city. Besides events, the police will supervise the safety of public places and prevent potential disruptions,” says Superintendent Simo Kauppinen from Helsinki Police.

Exceptional traffic arrangements in the city centre

This year, the traditional placing of a student cap on Havis Amanda’s head will take place at 6pm on 30 April in Kansalaistori square.

Traffic restrictions are planned and will be carried out together with the city’s safety experts, the police and rescue services.

Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi will be transformed into courtyard streets between Mannerheimintie and Unionkatu from 3pm on 30 April to 8pm on 1 May.
Parking will be banned in Tehtaankatu on 30 April to 1 May to allow unhindered tram traffic. The ban applies to the whole of Tehtaankatu and individuals who have parked there are asked to move their vehicles.
Mannerheimintie between Arkadiankatu and Runeberginkatu will be closed to motor vehicles from 4pm to 8pm on 30 April because of placing the student cap on Havis Amanda’s head in Kansalaistori square.
Motor vehicles will be diverted via Runeberginkatu while the stretch of Mannerheimintie is closed.

The May Day parade of the Aalto-university School of Business students affects traffic from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The route goes through Senaatintori – Unioninkatu – Eteläesplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Töölönlahdenkatu – Kansalaistori.

May Day is also a popular celebration for young people

The police, first aid, youth services and other partners will be present in places popular with young people. The police remind young people to take good care of friends and encourage guardians to talk about May Day plans with their children.

“We hope that guardians will keep tabs on their children’s movements and discuss them with them. We ask guardians to answer calls from unknown numbers since the caller might be a police officer,” Kauppinen points out.

Helsinki Police will update the latest information about May Day events on the police website poliisi.fi. and X account @HelsinkiPoliisi.

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Passports and identity cards can be quickly renewed by queuing in Helsinki

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:00:00 GMT

The Helsinki police will exceptionally serve passport and identity card customers over the weekend of April 20–21, 2024, from 8:00 am to 3:50 pm. Then, only customers who have made a reservation will be served. The weekend booking opened today in the police’s electronic service.

‘The demand for travel documents is highest before the summer holiday season. We are responding to customer needs with a few weekends. About 1000 customers managed to identify their self at the Helsinki police station in Pasila in March thanks to an extra weekend. New customer service times are also opened on weekdays on a weekly basis, for example, due to cancellations,’ reminds Commissioner Satu Mäkinen."

If you cannot or do not want to apply for a passport or identity card online, you can also complete an application at a police station. Online applications are quicker and carry a lower charge.

Instructions for applying for travel documents in Helsinki

Before applying for a passport or identity card, identify what travel document you will need at your destination. You only need an identity card when going to the EU member states and a few other European countries.
Start to apply for a passport or identity card online.
Identify yourself at a police station if required. The quickest way to identify yourself is to use the queue number system.
Remember to cancel your booked appointment if you are unable to show up.
Passports, identity cards and permits - Police (poliisi.fi)
Helsinki Police Department, units and services - Police (poliisi.fi)

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Scam calls in the name of the police in Northern countries

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:18:00 GMT

A genuine police officer will never ask for your online banking codes over the phone or through any other means or request money.

Police phone numbers start with 0295. Official police email addresses end with @poliisi.fi

What to do if you receive a scam call

If someone claiming to be a police officer calls and asks for money or personal information, end the call.
You do not need to take any further action regarding the matter.

What to do if you have provided your information

If you have already given out your personal or bank information, immediately contact your bank.
After that, you should report the matter to the police. You can report an offence online at poliisi.fi or at any police station.
Do not call the emergency response centre about of the matter.

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The inauguration ceremony of the President of the Republic of Finland will cause short-term interruptions to traffic

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:05:00 GMT

The Mannerheimintie street will be closed to traffic in front of the Parliament House at 11:40 and 1 pm. The front of the Presidential Palace will be closed to traffic around 1 pm.

“The interruptions to traffic will not be long but will cause short-term congestions. We recommend people driving cars to avoid the area on Friday noon,” says Superintendent Jari Kaikko from the Helsinki Police Department.

The public can follow the guard of honour's inspection in front of the Parliament House in Mannerheimintie between 11:50 am and 1 pm. The presidential couple's greeting from the balcony of the Presidential Palace can be followed in the Market Square around 1:10 pm.

The police will be directing traffic at the scene.

More information: President of the Republic of Finland to be inaugurated on 1 March 2024 - Presidentti

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