Police call-out volumes continue to rise — police concerned about the increasing violence of youth crime

Despite the rise in call-out volumes, the Helsinki Police Department has been able to streamline its operations. The police and the City of Helsinki’s Youth Services are preparing to ensure the safety of young people celebrating May Day by deploying a large number of responsible adults.

The number of crimes reported to the Helsinki Police and emergency call-outs has continued to rise. Emergency call-outs have increased by about five percent compared to the same period last year, and the number of criminal offenses by about seven percent. Approximately seven percent more paid permits have been issued during the first half of this year than during the same period last year. Despite the increase in the number of assignments, the Helsinki Police Department has been able to streamline criminal investigations. In Helsinki, police arrive at category A assignments in an average of 4.9 minutes, while the target time is five minutes.

The cycle of crime among children and youth must be broken

In recent months, several robberies, assaults and other suspected violent offences committed by young people have made the news. The Helsinki Police Department is concerned about the growing seriousness of the crimes perpetrated by young people and the increasingly brutal nature of the violence.

“Although most young people are still doing well, a small group has fallen into a cycle of serious crime. Particularly among 15- to 17-year-olds, it is evident that young people are often on the run from home when they commit crimes. The police have repeatedly expressed concern that the risk of runaway youths turning to crime or becoming victims of crime is significantly high,” says Detective Chief Superintendent Jari Illukka.

In early April, a car shelter and eight cars were set on fire by a block of flats in Roihuvuori. Three minors with prior criminal records are suspected of aggravated criminal damage. 
“It is essential to break the cycle of crime among children and young people at the earliest possible stage, so that they do not end up committing more serious crimes and eventually becoming involved in organised crime,” Illukka emphasises.

The police prioritise cases in which a minor is either the suspect or the victim. The police aim to identify patterns of criminal behaviour among young people and intervene with effective criminal procedures and, if necessary, coercive measures.

The police have very limited means of intervention when crimes are committed by under-15s

Every year, the police receive a large number of reports of crimes in which all the suspects are under the age of 15. Every report filed with the police undergoes a preliminary investigation, and the police determine which pre-trial investigation measures are necessary. The police also investigate crimes committed by suspects under the age of 15 and file child welfare notifications when children are suspected of criminal offences.

“A pre-trial investigation is conducted when necessary in these cases. For example, it may be necessary to recover stolen property, ensure that the victim of a crime has the right to compensation, or determine the need for child welfare measures for the suspect or other matters related to the suspect’s interests. If even one of the suspects is aged 15 or more, a pre-trial investigation is conducted in the normal way," says Detective Chief Inspector Marja Väätti, who heads the Ankkuri team at the Helsinki Police Department.

The police cannot use coercive measures that restrict the liberty of anyone under the age of 15. A person under the age of 15 can only be obligated to be present during a pre-trial investigation for up to 24 hours for very weighty reasons.

"In the police's view, it would be beneficial to be able to hold suspects under the age of 15 in custody for longer periods when serious crimes are suspected," says Väätti.

At the Helsinki Police Department, the multi-disciplinary Ankkuri team oversees all criminal cases involving people under the age of 15. Ankkuri is primarily a tool for early intervention intended to address emerging problems at an early stage and prevent them from escalating. Participation in Ankkuri activities is voluntary.

“However, we have had cases involving children whom we are unable to get through to, for some reason. The police may have filed several child welfare notifications, but the child cannot break out of the cycle of crime. The police have very limited means of intervention when crimes are committed by under-15s. The police keep in active contact with the child welfare services to ensure they remain aware of the latest developments in the child's situation," Väätti notes.

Police maintain a visible presence at places where young people gather

May Day celebrations will take place this coming weekend, and young people will once again gather in parks to mark the occasion. The police will be out and about on May Day and during the upcoming school graduation ceremonies to ensure that festivities proceed safely.

“Parents and guardians should check their children’s backpacks before they go out and party. Bladed weapons and fireworks should not be brought to celebrations. In addition, minors should not have alcohol or other intoxicants in their possession. Unfortunately, setting off fireworks has become much more common in recent years, and they have led to serious incidents, including explosions in crowded areas," notes Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen, head of the Helsinki Police Department’s enforcement unit.

On May Day Eve last year, the police began clearing Kaivopuisto Park shortly after 10 pm, as the number of disturbances in the park began to rise, and there were many intoxicated young people in the area. Everyone who is out celebrating should be aware that the park will be cleared before dark again this year for reasons of public order and safety.

On May Day and school graduation ceremonies, lots of people will be out and about — not just police officers, but other responsible adults as well.

"The main objective of youth work during the festivities is to ensure that there are safe and responsible adults on the streets to interact with young people, be present, and offer help when needed," says Mikko Vatka, Director of Youth Affairs for the City of Helsinki.

The police have no specific indications that young people are carrying knives more often than before. Instead, there is a sense that if a person is carrying a knife, their threshold for using it could be very low.

“If young people get into a fight and one of them happens to have a knife with them, they might use it without giving the consequences a second thought. The police consider this a very worrying trend. Bladed weapons should absolutely be left at home, so that nothing irreversible can come to pass,” Kiiskinen emphasises.

Police visits to schools have become routine

The police adopted a new nationwide school policing model at the beginning of 2025. School policing has become an established part of the daily routine for the Helsinki Police Department’s patrols engaged in emergency response and enforcement operations, and police officers are now a common sight in school playgrounds. Patrols have been assigned to specific schools, which they visit regularly during their shifts to chat with pupils during break times.

“We have a very effective partnership with schools. The main message regarding schools is that they are safe and that the vast majority of young people are thriving. However, there are also cases where police assistance is needed. Over the course of the school year, the school police were contacted about 500 times. Most incidents involved disruptive behaviour of some kind, bullying or even physical violence. One concern that schools are raising is the sale of drugs," Kiiskinen notes.

Alarming rise in the number of young people committing narcotics offences
The profiles of the individuals suspected of drug offences reveal a worrying increase in the number of underage suspects.

"The young people suspected of narcotics offences have direct or indirect links to street gangs, which in turn have even stronger links to international organised crime," says Senior Detective Superintendent Kimmo Sainio.

The police are especially concerned about Crime as a Service, a phenomenon that has now arrived in Finland, where young people are enticed into committing crimes, sometimes serious crimes, for fairly meagre compensation. These activities are often orchestrated from abroad, and the main perpetrators use threats and blackmail to ensure the young person carries out the crime they have been ordered to commit.

“The exploitation of minors and vulnerable young people for criminal purposes is a despicable and highly concerning practice,” Sainio says.