Police violence spikes in Finland as alarming incidents rise against officers

Finnish police face extreme violence on a weekly basis, according to Henri Rikander, a doctor of law and a docent in police law at the University of Eastern Finland. The most common forms of violence against police officers involve hitting, kicking, or grappling, typically occurring during arrest situations.

Recently, the capital region has witnessed alarming incidents, including three suspected murder attempts against police officers on a single Thursday. In Leppävaara, Espoo, two officers were shot at with a handgun, while an officer in Vantaa was targeted with a crossbow. Rikander expressed concern over the rising visibility of firearms and bladed weapons in public.

Despite recent events, he noted that there is no definitive evidence indicating an increase in illegal firearms compared to previous years. However, he acknowledged that violence against police has intensified, suggesting a lower threshold for using firearms and other weapons. Ilkka Koskimäki, the new police chief, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that police encounter violence or threats daily, attributing this trend to drug use, accessibility of illegal weapons, mental health issues, and public attitudes towards authorities.

According to the police authority, there have been approximately 600 incidents of violent opposition against officials this year, showing a steady annual increase from 532 cases in 2010 to 909 last year. Furthermore, police have found themselves in situations requiring them to display firearms over 1,600 times this year, a significant rise from just 66 incidents in 2010.

Rikander mentioned ongoing legislative preparations aimed at increasing penalties for carrying illegal firearms in public. He emphasized the need for police to enhance their capabilities in tracing the origins of illegal weapons, suggesting that additional resources for traffic enforcement could help remove these weapons from circulation.