Police address rising youth violence challenges in Espoo, Finland

In Espoo and other parts of Western Uusimaa, police are becoming aware of challenges related to youth and children fighting, often reported on a weekly basis. According to Commissioner Hannu Väänänen, this phenomenon involves children and teenagers challenging one another to fights via social media.

Typically, youth select their targets based on fabricated reasons—such as a remark made years prior, a disagreement, or even revenge for a girlfriend. Fight challenge messages prompt victims to show up, as failure to do so could lead to confrontations at their homes, Väänänen explains.

Incidents of youth-on-youth violence have grown more common in recent years, particularly among children aged around 12 and older. However, not all challenges reach the attention of the police; some come to light only through reports of assault during investigations.

The SOS Children’s Village organization has also noted this trend in their Apuu chat, where young people discuss fight challenges they have encountered. Concerns about bullying were publicly addressed by the organization prior to the start of the school year.

Väänänen points out that, in many cases, one or two individuals may be outnumbered by several attackers during these fights, with sometimes as many as thirty onlookers filming the events. The violence can be severe, often involving jumping on the victim, kicking, and beating.

The police encourage anyone involved to report these fight challenges, even if they remain at the threat level. They advise documenting these situations through screenshots and recordings, which can aid investigations. Väänänen stresses the need for a shift in mindset among adults to create a safer environment where victims feel they can seek help from authorities.