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Uhkaukset (tietoa rikoksista, hero) en

Threats

Making an illegal threat is a crime. Making an illegal threat means intimidating someone so that they feel they are in serious danger or fear for their property. An illegal threat can also be directed at a close person, such as a parent or sibling.

Shouting or comments that threaten another with violence, such as beating, for example, can constitute an illegal threat. An illegal threat can also be, for example, pointing a toy gun at another person. Even though the toy gun cannot actually be fired, the victim may be very scared. The same laws apply online and on social media. Threatening someone with violence is a crime there, too.  

The shadow of the stabber on the stone wall.

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Mitä teen, jos joku uhkailee niin, että minua pelottaa tosi paljon? (tietoa rikoksista, uhkaukset) en

What should I do if someone threatens me in a way that really scares me?

If you feel that you or someone else is in danger, call 112 immediately and report the incident.  
Don’t hesitate to tell an adult you trust about the incident. Don't be left alone. It's also a good idea to file a police report.

If you are being threatened online or on social media, take a screenshot or video of the threat. This will help the police to investigate the matter. 

Mitä seurauksia uhkauksesta voi tulla? (tietoa rikoksista, uhkaukset) en

What consequences can result from a threat?

An illegal threat is usually a complainant offence. This means that you can decide for yourself whether you want the perpetrator to be punished. However, this is not always the case. If the threatening situation has been really dangerous, the police will continue to investigate the incident, even if you do not want the perpetrator to be punished. 

If a threat is made to a school or other place where there are a lot of people, it is a serious crime. Even if the threat was made “as a prank,” the police will take it seriously and begin to investigate the matter. 

Even a threat made as a joke can have serious consequences. A person over the age of 15 who makes a false report of a danger can be sentenced to imprisonment for at most one year. Even a person under the age of 15 is liable to compensate for the damage they cause.

Testaa tietosi: uhkaukset (tietoa rikoksista, uhkaukset) en

Test your knowledge: Threats

If a person under 15 threatens on social media to burn down a school, there will be no consequences

False

A threat like this is always a serious matter and will be dealt with, even if the perpetrator is under 15 years old. Even a person under 15 may have to pay compensation for damages caused. The costs of unduly alerting authorities can also be considered damages. A child welfare notification will also be made concerning the person concerned. However, a child welfare notification is not a punishment, but is intended to arrange help for the young person.

It's no big deal if someone threatens to kill or rape you in an online game. Everyone yells like that if they're not good at playing..

False

Threatening someone in a game is at the very least bad behaviour and may also be a crime. It's not nice to have to constantly put up with abuse while playing. If the game has a reporting channel, use it. If you feel that the danger is real and you are scared, tell the police or another trusted adult. Threats indicate that the perpetrator is seeking attention or trying to gain a reputation, and this is usually due to the perpetrator's low self-esteem.

Some unknown person has sent me violent videos in a private message on social media and commented, "You should do that, too." The person seems to be a troll who has also commented obscenities on my friends' photos. I should tell an adult about the messages.

True

No one should be threatened on social media. You should always report threatening messages to a trusted adult, even if you think the commenter is just an online troll. You can also report the troll using the platform's reporting tools and block the harassing profile. If you feel that your safety may be at risk, contact the police.