Research: Crimes by asylum seekers typically involve assaults and intimidation in reception centers

Research: Crimes by asylum seekers typically involve assaults and intimidation in reception centers

A study by the Police University College reveals that crimes committed by asylum seekers tend to involve assaults and intimidation in reception centers. The next most common crimes committed by asylum seekers were property offenses, sexual offenses, and offenses against reception centers and their staff.

The study investigated crimes, involving asylum seekers, which had come to the attention of the police. The data was based on cases recorded in the police information system in 2016, in which an asylum seeker was either the suspect or victim of a crime. It consisted of a total of 1,565 reports of crimes. During the reporting year, a maximum of around 30,000 and a minimum of around 20,000 asylum seekers resided in Finland.

- The reports revealed that crimes committed in reception centers are often based on cultural and religious disputes, which cause problems between residents. A situation leading to assault can develop from a very trivial issue, says researcher Suvi-Tuuli Mansikkamäki of the Police University College.

- Another cause of such problems was the dissatisfaction of asylum seekers with the dissatisfaction of asylum seekers with their conditions in the reception centers. Such dissatisfaction is expressed as crimes targeting reception centers and their staff. An asylum seeker may threaten staff or damage movable property in order to get a transfer to another reception center.

Both the victims and suspects are mainly young men

The total number of victims recorded was 1,066. Over two-thirds of these were men, more than half of whom were 25 or under, and 49 percent were Iraqi citizens. A total of 1,052 people were suspected of crimes, 95 percent of whom were men, just over half of whom were 25 years of age or younger and 62 percent of whom were Iraqi citizens. Because the same person may have been represented in the data several times, it is likely that the data represents fewer victims and suspects than these figures suggest.

- Iraqis and Afghans became by far the largest group of asylum seekers entering Finland between 2015 and 2016; statistically, they were also the group most frequently suspected of crimes. In proportion to their numbers, by nationality Algerians, Belarusians and Moroccans have the highest representation among suspects. However, there are considerably fewer of them among entrants to Finland, comments Suvi-Tuuli Mansikkamäki.

The data included a total of 161 sexual offenses, with 147 victims reported. The victims of sexual offenses were mainly Finnish females. 46 percent of the victims were under the age of 18.

Educational videos to promote social integration

This is the first time that such a study has been conducted. It is one section of the more extensive, three-part TURVA project carried out by the police and the Finnish Immigration Service.

- Follow-up information is needed on offenses involving asylum seekers, for the benefit of public discussion, the public authorities, and asylum seekers. People have a wide range of ideas and beliefs concerning immigration - and asylum seekers in particular. The gathering of research data is therefore also justified on these grounds, says Senior Researcher Kari Laitinen of the Police University College.

The second part of the TURVA project will seek to promote asylum seekers’ understanding of Finnish society, by creating videos whose manuscripts are based on the research material. The videos will be used to prevent violent behavior and foster adaptation to Finnish society. They will provide instructions on issues such as how to act in potential conflict situations.

- Physical punishment and other violence in close relationships are taken seriously, and this must be made clear to all asylum seekers. The clear message should be given that violence is strictly forbidden and everyone has the right to seek help if they are subjected to violence, Suvi-Tuuli Mansikkamäki points out.

Training for reception center workers

The third part of the TURVA project will be based on information obtained from the study and involve training on working methods that prevent violence.

- The overall objective of the project is to increase asylum seekers’ understanding of Finnish society and fundamental and human rights, while promoting the overall feeling of safety, says the Project Manager of the TURVA project, Seija Hämäläinen of the Finnish Immigration Service.

The project is funded by the European Union's Asylum, Immigration and Integration Fund (AMIF), together with the Oulu Reception Center and the National Police Board. The project will continue until January 2019.

The research report can be found on the Police University College's website at www.polamk.fi/julkaisut .

For further information on the research and development projects of the Police University College, see Research and development projects .

» Press release published by the Finnish Immigration Service