Variety is the spice of life
Harri Herala, Guard
Helsinki Police Department, Helsinki
My career has taken me from working at sea to driving buses and now to being a guard. I found working at sea to be unsuitable for a social person like me, so I left that industry. I drove buses for a while, before becoming a guard - a job I fell into by chance, although I have enjoyed this work. I have now worked as a guard for over ten years. I worked as a prison guard until 2022, when I transferred to the Helsinki Police Department.
Working for the police is more varied than in a prison. I guard the police jail, and also work shifts at the holding cells and in the police station lobby. In the jail and holding cells, we look after the health of the detainees and handle everyday activities, such as meals, outdoor exercise, and showers. We also escort detainees to interrogations and meetings with their lawyers. In the lobby, I conduct security checks and provide advice and guidance to clients arriving there. The guards also handle the registration of people in the jail, which means we take fingerprints, photographs, and DNA samples from individuals arrested by the police.
My duties vary depending on the day. I may start my shift at the jail reception and then move to the police station lobby if necessary. Some guards are specialists, working only in the jail or lobby. I enjoy all my work and have nothing to complain about.
You need to be sociable to work as a guard. We are always dealing with different kinds of people: clients, police officers, and other stakeholders. Flexibility and adaptability are also helpful, especially when dealing with clients. Detainees brought to the jail and holding cells can be in various emotional states, and we must be able to treat them neutrally. We are not just guards to them; we are also like social workers.
My bus-driving qualification was beneficial for this job, because I sometimes need to drive a bus for the police department. For example, I drive police officers to training sessions and the Helsinki Police Band to gigs. During large demonstrations, the police sometimes arrest several people, and I take them to the police station by bus.
Encounters with clients are generally positive. Intoxicated people, in particular, can sometimes be angry and defiant, but we treat them as human beings. Sometimes when a client gets out, they leave us a note at reception – or we get feedback through other channels – thanking us for our work. I’s always nice to hear that our work is appreciated.
The environment and the work community are the best things about this job. I like variety, and we have a great team. A big part of it is our shared sense of humour. Even though I work in shifts, I feel that I have plenty of time for social activities and hobbies outside work. And my work stays in the workplace when I take off my uniform.
