Security stewarding

You can move around in public places without fear of or interference from others and without your peace being disturbed. For this purpose, noisy and threatening conduct and carrying dangerous items or substances are not permitted in public places.

What is public order and security (YTJ in Finnish)

Authorities use the Finnish acronym YTJ as standard when talking about public order and security.

The police patrols, gives advice and guides to safeguard order

The police maintain order and security in public places by patrolling, responding to urgent calls, providing advice and guidance, and by intervening in illegal activities. While organisers of public events are responsible for security arrangements at the events, the police can provide instructions or give orders as necessary. The Police can also prevent, stop or end a public event if necessary.

Security is based on cooperation

The police’s primary task is to prevent crime and disturbances of the peace, working together with local residents, public authorities and various organisations. Local safety and security plans are prepared in order to effectively coordinate such cooperation. Such a working method, referred to as community policing, focuses on solving problems and promoting co-operation.

The rules concerning public order are the same everywhere in the country.

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Frequently asked questions

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Police vehicles are not free-of-charge taxis offering transport services. When a person is too drunk to take care of him/herself, the police is, however, responsible for looking after the person. In these situations, the police would always rather drive the person home than to police jail or hospital, if it’s possible considering distances, the person’s condition or other police tasks.

Try to check the person’s health situation yourself and contact the police or ambulance services if necessary by calling the Emergency Response Centre’s number 112. You should remember, however, that being drunk is not a crime according to the law, and in the warm summertime, for example, nothing prevents a person from lying on a park bench. The situation is completely different in very cold winter weather, during which a passed-out person’s life is obviously in danger.

You should bring up the issue with your neighbour first and talk about walking the dog. If this has no effect, you can call the police about the issue. According to the Public Order Act, dogs must be on a leash in urban areas, but this doesn’t apply to sparsely populated areas. According to the Hunting Law, dogs must be kept on a leash or in such a way that they can be taken on a leash immediately outdoors from 1 March to 19 August.

If the person is a troublemaker, the police can take him/her into custody and keep him/her in jail for as long as the disturbance is likely to reoccur, at most 24 hours from apprehension. If the person is drunk, he/she can be taken into custody, if it’s necessary for their own safety. Usually, a person is released from jail when their condition allows it.

Public Order Act

The purpose of the Public Order Act is to promote order and security in public places.

The same provisions regarding public order have been applied throughout the country starting 1 October 2003. On that date, the different rules and regulations of municipalities on public order were replaced with the Public Order Act.

What is a public place?

The Public Order Act applies to places designated for public use, regardless of the ownership of the place in question. Such places include roads, streets, pavements, market squares, parks, beaches, sports grounds, cemeteries, buildings in public use, vehicles, government offices and other office premises, and restaurants.

Prohibitions improve security and comfort

The Public Order Act forbids

disturbing public order or safety by making noise, making threats, shooting, throwing objects or a similar way
buying sexual services and offering them for a fee
urinating and defecating by causing disturbance or danger to health
the possession of objects and substances that can be used to harm others
the possession of substances suitable for defacing, such as spray paints

The Public Order Act regulates the supervision of domestic animals and pets.

A beer can be opened on a park picnic

Use of intoxicating substances in public places is forbidden. There are some exceptions to this, for example, alcoholic beverages can be consumed at so-called park picnics.

Contact information for door opening in view

Apartment houses must display contact information to be used in case authorities need to get into the building immediately and without cost.

The majority of Public Order Act violations are punished with summary penal fees in euros.

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