Polamk - News

The Cyber Capital project renewed cybercrime prevention education to meet today's requirements

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:30:00 GMT

The competence needs of today's cybercrime prevention were met in cooperation between the Police University College (Polamk) and the Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk), when the development of specialized cybercrime prevention training for authorities began in the Cyber Capital project funded by the European Union's Internal Security Fund.

"At the outset, cybercrime and digital operating environments were already part of everyday crime prevention work, but the need for specialized expertise had grown rapidly: investigative processes, technical methods and the criminals’ methods are constantly evolving. We needed a training programme that brings together the competence requirements of modern cybercrime prevention and supports the practical work of the police and other authorities, as well as cooperation with other actors," says Tomislav Kukulj, Senior Specialist at the Police University College.

More than 1 500 authorities participated in updated cybercrime prevention training during the project, which focused on the key areas of cybercrime prevention. According to the follow up surveys of the training, almost all respondents reported using the skills and knowledge gained from the courses in their work within one to three months after completing the training. The training was considered topical and useful, and the practicality, perspective suitable for an operational authority environment, and up-to-date and high-quality teaching combined with the training were particularly appreciated.

Improved Ability to Detect and Prevent Cybercrime

Thanks to the training needs assessment carried out during the project, the competence gaps of the authorities were identified more comprehensively than before, and the updated training content could be targeted at actual needs.

"The project resulted in more appropriate specialization studies that are better suited to practical work. The authorities' ability to identify and combat criminal phenomena in the cyber operating environment improved," says Project Coordinator Noora Järvensivu from the Police University College.

Over the three-year project, international cooperation was further developed, the skills of the authorities were tested in cyber exercise, and the use of artificial intelligence in combating against cybercrime was studied.

"Cybercrime and the related need for training are also global, so training cooperation between foreign authorities has been conscious and desirable. Common interests and overlapping training needs and competence objectives have been obvious, so cooperation and international competence development have been sensible in all respects and efficient in terms of resources," says Toni Kranz, Senior Specialist at the Police University College.

"There is a fairly strict framework for the use of artificial intelligence, within which the authorities can operate. It is also very important for the authorities to keep track of how criminals may exploit new technologies. These issues were also mapped out within the framework of the project," says Specialist Vesa Vertainen from Jamk.

More information about the Cyber-X exercise held in March 2025 in a separate news article.

Cyber Capital project results in new expertise

The new expertise enabled by the Cyber Capital project responds directly to the need to strengthen the ability of the police and other authorities to:

respond to cybercrime more quickly and effectively
investigate cybercrimes in a high-quality manner in situations where the key evidence is digital evidence
combine technical expertise with criminal proceedings (legislation, authority powers, ethics)
utilize up-to-date tools and methods in a rapidly changing operating environment
improve comprehensive cybercrime prevention expertise at both local and national level
improve international cooperation and interoperability in combating against cross-border cybercrime.

The results presented in the article are the results of the Cyber Capital project. The project has been funded by the European Union's Internal Security Fund (ISF). In the project, Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk) and Police University College (Polamk) collaborate to update, develop and deliver specialization training for cybercrime prevention.

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Police officers fallen in the line of duty will be remembered globally in March

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:05:00 GMT

For the first time, the Police of Finland will participate in a global Interpol campaign where officers fallen in the line of duty are honored on the International Day of Remembrance for Fallen Officers on 7 March.

Since the International Day of Remembrance falls on a Saturday this year, the Police of Finland will flow the flags half-mast on Friday 6 March.

Global Blue Chain

In the Interpol campaign ”Global Blue Chain”, national buildings and landmarks all over the world will be illuminated in blue. Police University College will participate by lighting the campus main building in Hervanta in blue between 6 and 7 March 2026.

The Finnish police fatalities are displayed in the online exhibition ”In Memoriam – Police killed in the line of duty” of the Police Museum. The exhibition includes a database of 164 police fatalities, in which a police officer has fallen due to violence or accident. In Finland two officers have lost their lives due to violence in the line of duty in the 21st century.

The Police Museum in Tampere will organize a guided tour free of charge following the online exhibition theme on 7 March. The guided tour is in Finnish. More information on the tour and exhibition is available on the web pages of the Police Museum.

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Record number of applicants for police studies

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:52:00 GMT

Nearly 5,600 applications were received for Finnish-language police education groups starting in 2026 and over 200 for Swedish-language education. There are a total of 375 student places available for the Bachelor of Police Services program this year.

“We have accepted more students than usual in recent years because the government program has aimed to increase the number of police officers. Last year, there were 450 places available, and the year before that, 500. It's great that there have been so many applicants and that we've been able to fill all the places,” says Director of the Police University College Marko Laitinen.

Finnish-language police studies begin four times a year, and student selections for the last group of the year, beginning in October, will be confirmed in September. Swedish-language studies begin every 1.5 years, most recently in January this year.

The annual number of applicants for the Bachelor of Police Services degree has fluctuated around 5,000 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The average age of applicants is currently around 26, and around 40 percent of applicants are women.

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Being the victim of a violent or sexual crime may reduce trust in the police

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:08:00 GMT

The second part of the publication The Police and the Public provides new research findings of the mutual relationship between the police and citizens in Finland. The publication consists of three articles, all of which examine citizens’ distrust of the police. The research articles are based on data from the 2022 Police Barometer survey.

“The essence of trust becomes apparent gradually when the distrust expressed towards the police is analysed,” say the authors of the study, Researchers Matti Vuorensyrjä and Jenita Rauta from the Police University College.

Experiences of injustice are reflected in trust

The publication discusses topics such as why victims of sexual or violent crimes experience a deeper than usual distrust of the police.

The data of the Police Barometer survey show that many of those who have been victims of sexual offences have felt that the actions by the police and the criminal process in general are unfair. According to the victims’ experiences, they have not been properly heard or believed, they have not been treated with respect, or the questions made by the police have made the victim feel guilty.

Victims of violent crimes, on the other hand, often have the experience that they have not received the kind of help they needed from the police. According to the victims, the actions by the police have not been effective: the case may not have been processed all, or it may not have made progress or may not have been solved.

“Only 1 to 2 per cent of all respondents to the open-ended question referred to a victim’s experience of a violent or sexual crime, but their experiences were of great importance. They significantly reduced trust in the police,” Matti Vuorensyrjä and Jenita Rauta sum up.

Why did the Aarnio case not significantly undermine trust in the police?

The publication also asks why citizens’ trust in the actions of the police did not suffer as a result of the so-called Aarnio case. Jari Aarnio, the former head of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Helsinki Police Department, was sentenced to a long prison sentence for several aggravated narcotics offences, among other things.

According to many respondents, there is only little corruption in Finland in general – and particularly little in the police. The respondents had come to this conclusion based on their own experience as well as publicity and comparative research data. Even though the respondents felt that the Aarnio case was serious and reprehensible, it was probably only an isolated case in their opinion.

The core of trust in the police consists of many factors

The key factor in the trust felt towards the police is citizens’ perception that the police are impartial, treat everyone equally and encounter citizens and customers with respect in everyday interaction situations. The findings are similar both in international research literature and in research concerning Finland.

“In our further research, we intend to focus on such factors that explain trust which are not related to everyday encounters between the police and citizens. These so-called macro-level factors explain issues such as why citizens’ trust in the police varies so much in different countries. Micro-level factors, such as interaction situations, do not explain the differences as a whole,” Matti Vuorensyrjä and Jenita Rauta state.

The data for the Police Barometer survey 2022 were collected between October and December 2022. Of the 8,500 people in the sample, 4,044 people (47.6 per cent) responded to the survey. The Police Barometer is a series of surveys, where the first survey was conducted in 1999.

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Report on wilderness supervision available online

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT

According to the report, Finland's current model of wilderness supervision (surveillance) can detect no more than about one-tenth of nature and wilderness crimes. The report highlights 14 measures for improving game and fisheries supervision: for example, increasing funding and appointing a national coordinator would make the work more effective.

“Wilderness Supervision in Finland – Situation Overview and Development Needs” -report has now been published in the Police Universicyt College’s publication series and is available online. The report has an abstract in English.

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Travel ban, or arrest and remand? Considering the interest of a child suspected of a criminal offence

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Travel ban and electronically monitored travel ban should be alternatives to arrest and remand, especially in the case of children, but the complex regulatory framework complicates the use of these coercive measures. This is revealed by a legal dogmatic study published by the Police University College.

“When a child is suspected of a criminal offence, situations may arise during the pre-trial investigation that are not in the best interests of the child. Deprivation of liberty must be a measure used as a last resort, but the head of investigation, for example, may have to demand that the child be remanded because the police do not have the authority to decide on an electronically monitored travel ban. While waiting for the court hearing, the child may therefore have to spend an extra night in a police prison,” says Senior Detective Superintendent Marko Forss, the doctoral researcher who conducted the study.

Another significant challenge is the coordination of the work of the police and the social welfare authorities in a situation where coercive measures are used against a minor.

“In the case of a child, it is often necessary to weigh the impact of the child welfare process on the use of coercive measures, but the legislator has not really provided any tools for this,” Marko Forss says.

More consistent regulation that takes into account the role of the social welfare authorities and custodians in more detail would facilitate and harmonize the work of the authorities working with a child suspected of a criminal offence and ensure the realization of the rights of the child in the process.

The publication “Travel Ban and Electronically Monitored Travel Ban as Alternatives to the Arrest and Remand of a Child in Pre-Trial Investigation” is intended especially for police officers serving as the head of investigation in a pre-trial investigation, as well as prosecutors and courts. The publication also benefits social welfare authorities, for example, who participate in the use of coercive measures in their own role.

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The Gaming Police project has been awarded the Recognition for Act of Dialogue in Finland

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:09:00 GMT

The joint Gaming Police project of the Police University College, Ostrobothnia Police Department, and Häme Police Department develops new multi-professional activities to prevent and combat harmful activities and crime targeting children in the digital gaming world. The initiative will soon be launched in Åland as well. The aim of the Gaming Police project is to improve police availability and accessibility and operational capability on gaming platforms and discussion forums, and to offer help to risk groups and crime victims. The project focuses particularly on sexual violence targeting children, cybercrime, and violent radicalization and extremism. The gaming activities also aim to prevent and combat hate crime.

"In the Gaming Police project, we are doing something completely new that has never been done in Finland before: the police are present in the virtual gaming world, ‘patrolling’ among children and young people. The credit goes especially to the police officers who have carried out practical work in the virtual gaming environment. Thanks also to all our partners in social and health services, youth work, the third sector, and internationally," says Pirjo Jukarainen, Project Manager at the Police University College.

The justification for the recognition states that the Timeout Foundation values the police’s interactive and long-term work in gaming communities and platforms. According to the foundation, the police have long been pioneers on various social media platforms and other online communities. The Gaming Police operates on platforms where young people already are and enables discussions on even difficult topics.

"We organize weekly gaming events online. These events are not just about playing; we also address themes raised by children and young people or by police departments, such as traffic safety, glorification of criminal lifestyles, and gambling. In addition, we offer the opportunity to chat anonymously with the police. Once a month, the gaming event is multi-professional, allowing chat discussions with social and health care professionals and youth workers, who can provide help if needed," explains Sergeant Pasi Puumala, a gaming police officer.

"Children and young people spend most of their free time online. The police can reach thousands of young people in a short time through the internet. Operating on digital platforms has made it possible to establish contact with a low threshold and has built trust in the police. Young people have dared to share situations where, for example, they have been victims of crime or have been coerced into committing crimes", says Chief Superintendent Miia Lehtinen from the National Police Board.

This year, three actors received the Recognition for Act of Dialogue in Finland. The other awardees are SAMS, an interest organization for the Swedish nationwide disability organizations in Finland, and The Walkers concept by the Children of the Station organization. In addition, Alma Jokinen and Eetu Leinonen, the Youth Delegates of Finland for the EU, received an honorable mention.

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Combating gang crime requires cooperation and information sharing

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:03:00 GMT

How are young people recruited into criminal networks, and how can this be prevented? How can the money and other benefits gained from criminal activity be most effectively seized? How can cooperation between authorities be strengthened?

In the research project “Current state of gang crime, tackling it, and seizing the proceeds of crime”, experts from the police administration were interviewed about the current state of gang crime prevention and effective operational models. In addition, official materials, research literature, and public debate were analyzed.

The results will be used to develop knowledge-based operations and cooperation between authorities.

Youth involvement is concerning

Interviewees described the street gang phenomenon as evolving and multifaceted: the groups are network-based and simultaneously local and international.

One of the concerning findings of the project was the involvement of young people in criminal networks: children under the age of 15 are often recruited into criminal activity with promises of money, status, and a sense of belonging.

"Combating this phenomenon raises questions about cooperation between authorities and the regulation of information sharing, for example with child protection services", says project researcher Kimmo Kuukasjärvi from the Police University College.

A challenge for society

The study confirmed the well-known observation that effective crime prevention requires cooperation and information sharing between authorities. This, in turn, calls for clearer regulation, good information management, and, for example, the police’s right of access to information.

Comprehensive preventive measures are needed.

"Broadly speaking, it is about how criminal networks acquire resources and how these resources affect security, trust, and the operational capacity of authorities in society. In Sweden, for example, criminal networks have already succeeded in creating alternative power structures, and the impacts
are widely visible in society", Kuukasjärvi explains.

The project was carried out by the Ministry of the Interior, the National Police Board, and the Police University College as part of the action plan for combating the grey economy and economic crime.

Translation made with the help of artificial intelligence.

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Innovative solutions to support victims of domestic violence

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:25:00 GMT

Some victims of domestic violence do not fully recognise their own situation and do not report violence, or they do not know where to get help. It is also not clear to many victims where and how help is available.

The international IMPROVE (Improving Access to Services for Victims of Domestic Violence by Accelerating Change in Frontline Responder Organisations) project investigated in particular why victims of domestic violence do not always seek services and how the situation could be improved. Reporting violence and seeking help are affected by factors such as the victim’s age, disability, sexual orientation, and how serious the victims perceive various violent acts to be.

The objective was to develop, based on research data, methods that increase the opportunities of victims of domestic violence to seek help and improve the ability of the authorities to intervene in domestic violence.

Data bank and chatbot as channel for seeking help

One of the innovations developed within the project was the AinoAid™ service based on artificial intelligence: a data bank and chatbot that helps victims of domestic violence identify their situation and provides information and instructions in several languages. It also serves as an access channel to the service network and lowers the threshold for contacting the authorities.

“The service has an average of about 600 to 700 daily users. The total number of users has been close to 44,000 since the launch of the service in April 2024,” says Anna Juusela, CEO and founder of the company We Encourage, which was responsible for the development of the AinoAid™ service.

The service can be used by those who experience violence, perpetrators of violence when they seek help, people close to them, and professionals who in their work encounter clients affected by violence.

“The service is of the greatest benefit for those who are looking for more understanding of difficult situations taking place in their close personal relationships and for those who are not quite sure about whether the situations represent violence. Moreover, the service provides support in rebuilding one’s life after getting out of violent situations.”

The European Commission awarded the AinoAid™ service as the best innovation of 2025.

“We Encourage will continue to develop the service as part of the REACH project, in which the service will be expanded to support victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation,” Anna Juusela says.

The Police University College participated in the development of the AinoAid™ service by providing information on the factors that prevent victims from seeking services.

“Research results were used in the design of the content of the chatbot and data bank so that the service would respond as well as possible to the actual needs and situations of the victims,” says Jarmo Houtsonen, Senior Researcher at the Police University College.

Training for frontline responders

The project aimed to improve the ability of the authorities to respond better to domestic violence. The project produced a training platform that endeavours to strengthen the competence and readiness of different parties to encounter victims of violence, improve multi-professional co-operation and help identify the special needs of victims.

The training material developed is aimed especially at those who are in the front line in the fight against domestic violence, such as police officers, social workers, health care professionals, representatives of organisations, and legal experts. The training platform is available in several languages and serves both as an independent learning environment and as a material bank.

“The Police University College was responsible for the evaluation of the training platform and training modules. We gathered feedback on the content and functionality of the training platform from the frontline responders in the fight against domestic violence across Europe. We also participated in the production of training contents. The evaluation was used for drawing up a handbook that the trainers can use to build different courses, seminars or webinars from the material,” Jarmo Houtsonen says.

IMPROVE was a continuation of the IMPRODOVA project, the goal of which was to develop co-operation and exchange of information between the police and other frontline responders and thus enhance intervention in domestic violence.

“Combatting domestic violence also requires research on those who commit violence. Any future projects could study the backgrounds and motives of the perpetrators, develop preventive operating models, and build services and support programmes for the perpetrators,” Jarmo Houtsonen says.

The three-year IMPROVE project was funded by the EU’s Horizon 2021 programme.

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Remote controlled drones tested in police work

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:53:00 GMT

The Police University College has initiated a development project to investigate the technical and functional capabilities of a drone-in-a-box (DIB) system in operational field work.

A drone-in-a-box system refers to a remotely controlled, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that consists of a docking station installed on the roof of a building, a drone inside that is in constant readiness to take off, and a remote control system.

The project will see the installation of a weather-protected docking station on the roof of the Police University College building. The docking station will be controlled remotely from the situation center of Central Finland Police Department.

Drones are an everyday tool for the police. They are used, for example, in various search missions, documenting crime and accident scenes, and transmitting situational awareness.

Speed is an asset

Compared to a regular drone, the drone-in-a-box system is ready at all times, which means a flight mission can be started without delay. The system can also be used for area surveillance, in which case it supports or completely replaces surveillance using security cameras.

According to Superintendent Sami Hätönen, a drone-in-a-box system provides undeniable benefits to police work.

”Above all, its speed is an asset. A police patrol no longer needs to drive to the scene of an incident to launch a drone. On the other hand, the drone can act as a first patrol. The video image it transmits can be used to determine whether a police patrol is needed at the scene. In addition, a remote controlled drone frees up the hands of the police officers working on the patrol for work other than operating the drone.

In other countries, authorities already have similar systems in use. In Finland, the DIB system has so far been used at least for area surveillance. Cities have also shown interest in particular in shared drone-in-a-box systems.

“However, shared systems come with various stumbling blocks, so we decided to play it safe and test the system on our own terms first,” Hätönen says.

The plan is to begin the practical testing phase of the system in early 2026. In addition to Tampere, similar testing will be carried out in the area of Southeastern Finland Police Department.

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New record in suspected hate crimes

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:01:00 GMT

This “Poliisin tietoon tullut viharikollisuus Suomessa 2024” (Hate crime reported to the police in 2024) report shows that the police filed a total of 1,808 reports of offenses on suspected hate crimes. This was the highest figure ever in the history of hate crime investigation.

Defamation and assault were the most common suspected hate crimes.

Law does not recognize hate crimes: motive is decisive

The report uses crime report information, which is used to analyze the suspicion of hate motive recorded in the report. The Finnish Criminal Code does not include the criminal categories of hate crime or hate speech, but hate motive is a basis for increasing the punishment. Therefore, any act that is defined by legislation as a crime can be a hate crime. The decisive factor is the motive of the act, which is ultimately determined by a court.

The Police University College report defines suspected hate crimes as reports where a hate motive is manifest. In 2024, the number of suspected hate crimes increased in all motive groups in the report, except for crimes related to religion or belief. The most common motive was the victim's ethnic or national background.

Hate crimes directed towards people with disabilities are increasing

Besides ethnic or national background, significant numbers of crime reports related to other hate motives were filed.

“There were again a third more suspected hate crimes directed towards disability than in the previous year. Reports related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are also increasing. Hate crime is therefore a diverse phenomenon that affects several different population groups,” says Jenita Rauta, researcher at the Police University College.

“The trend is concerning. In my opinion, the increase in hate crimes against people with disabilities reflects, for example, a broader societal polarization in which those in vulnerable positions are targeted. In suspected hate crimes, the perpetrator is often known to the victim, which emphasizes the need to strengthen security not only in the home and immediate environment, but also in schools, workplaces, and other everyday communities.

“On the other hand, hate crimes are also being identified better than earlier and reported more actively to the authorities, which increases the visibility of the phenomenon,” Rauta says.

Monitoring provides a basis for development and discussion

The monitoring of hate crime provides the authorities with comprehensive information on the number, nature and target groups of crimes. This information is needed to promote security and equality in society.

“Providing information about hate crimes can also serve to initiate broader societal discussions that enable a change in prejudiced and discriminatory attitudes and structures,” Rauta adds.

The Police University College’s report on hate crimes examines the trend and manifestations of hate crime in Finland each year. The Police University College has been monitoring the number of suspected hate crimes to its current extent since 2008. The statistics on suspected hate crime are based on crime reports screened out from the National Police Information System.

Crime reports including suspected hate crimes in 2019–2024

Motive	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Ethnic or national background	650	646	706	930	1,092	1,223
Religion or belief	133	108	133	121	165	158
Gender	NA	NA	NA	NA	6	11
Sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of gender	72	68	126	140	215	241
Disability	44	30	61	54	128	175
Total	899	852	1,026	1,245	1,606	1,808

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Superintendent Sami Hätönen from the Police University College chosen as the Police Officer of the Year

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:53:00 GMT

Sami Hätönen, who was chosen as the Police Officer of the Year 2025, has worked in a determined manner in developing the operations of the police in cooperation with other authorities and stakeholders. He has extensive networks both within Finland and internationally. Sami Hätönen has developed the management of police operations and emergency response technology, such as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in police operations.

Sami Hätönen has nearly 28 years of very diverse experience in public order and security operations and their development in various police units, the National Police Board and the Police University College. Sami Hätönen is currently the Chief of the Competence in public order and security unit at the Police University College. The unit includes the following competence areas: field operations, traffic and driving training, police dog operations, public order and security operations management, use of force and other special operations of the police.

The Police Officer of the Year is selected in cooperation between the Helsinki Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Finnish Police Union and the National Police Board.

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AI helps in proactive policing

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 06:07:00 GMT

Social media and online environments have changed how information is communicated and enabled the rapid spread of fake news and disinformation. Misinformation spread online can, for example, stir up social unrest or incite crime.

The Police University College was involved in the international FERMI (Fake nEws Risk MItigator) project, in which disinformation served as a testbed for developing AI tools for the authorities. AI was used to analyze how false information spreads online and the kinds of risks this may cause. These experiments have made it possible to test how AI can, for example, help the police to identify various threats in time and plan preventive actions.

The tool is able to identify the topic and likely origin of fake news, as well as how quickly disinformation is spreading. The tool can help the police to assess disinformation and analyze potential real-world impacts. It also provides authorities with proposals for countermeasures.

“Going forward, the police could use the tool to analyze, for example, whether more police officers need to be allocated to an area, but the tool still requires further development in this respect,” says Project Manager Jenita Rauta at the Police University College.

Education is key to the responsible use of AI

The Police University College produced educational material on the use of AI-based tools for the project. Planning the educational content was based on anticipation and proactive policing. The aim is to enable as many authorities in Europe as possible to benefit from the education.

“We aimed to use educational material to highlight how technology has been used and can be used in the future to assess risks and support police decision-making. New AI-based tools can offer opportunities for proactive policing across Europe,” explains Coordinator Miia Sainio.

However, AI is not just a technical tool, and its use in the work of the authorities raises many ethical questions.

"A key aspect of the educational content is the ethical use of AI. The police need to understand how AI works and how it can be used securely and responsibly. Even where AI is used, it is humans who make the decisions."

A total of 17 organizations in Europe were involved in the three-year FERMI project. The Ministry of the Interior also participated in the project from Finland. The project was funded by the EU Horizon 2021 initiative.

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Police University College involved in research projects investigating the state of organised crime

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:56:00 GMT

The objective of the project “Situational picture of Organised Crime in Finland 2025” is to understand the extent of and trends in organised crime and the means of combating organised crime.

The project will produce up-to-date and research-based information on organised crime in Finland. The data for the study will mainly be collected from open sources. In addition to research data, the study will also utilise risk assessments and statistics, among other things. The Police University College supports the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy (Krimo) at the University of Helsinki, which co-ordinates the project, by analysing statistics and international reference data.

“In line with the project, the Police University College will continue to work on the strategy against organised crime. The strategy co-ordinated by the Finnish Ministry of Justice was updated in February 2025, and for the update, the Police University College produced the reports as part of the TOC24 and Järis projects. The current project, in turn, is implementing the strategy,” says Vesa Muttilainen, Senior Researcher at the Police University College.

The project will provide comprehensive benefits to various parties in society

What kind of unlawful influence do law enforcement authorities face in the Nordic countries? This is investigated by the project “Organized Crime and Unlawful Influence: Mapping Nordic Knowledge”. The project is based on earlier research results and strategy documents on various threats, such as harassment, corruption and violence.

“The project surveys and analyses data from the five Nordic countries. The Police University College supports Krimo, which co-ordinates the project, by means such as analysing the Police Barometer and other data on the Finnish police,” Vesa Muttilainen says.

Research on organised crime benefits a wide range of parties in society.

“For the authorities, the projects provide information on the trends in serious crime and support strategic analysis and planning. The material produced in the projects can also be used in the enhancement of crime prevention and legislation and as part of police training. Various organisations and enterprises, on the other hand, can use the information for issues such as supporting the risk analysis of their operations.”

The projects are a continuation to the earlier research projects concerning organised crime and other serious crime, in which the Police University College has been involved. The projects will continue until March 2026.

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Illegal marketing of gambling in game streams and social media

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:21:00 GMT

In Finland, the supervision of gambling and its marketing is the responsibility of the Gambling Administration of the National Police Board. The National Police Board intervenes in illegal gambling marketing and in the organisation of illegal gambling activities.

The police are especially concerned about minors, to whom gambling is marketed through influencer marketing and social media. For example, viewers of various entertainment games are lured into gambling.

– One of the most common methods of illegal gambling marketing is so-called affiliate marketing. An example of this is game streams where links to gambling sites are shared via chat. The purpose of these links is to attract consumers in mainland Finland to become customers and thereby promote participation in gambling in Finland, explains Senior Advisor Johanna Syväterä from the National Police Board.

The Gaming Police project has also encountered illegal gambling marketing. At regularly organised gaming events for young people, gambling has also been advertised. Police have intervened quickly and forwarded the cases. However, such advertising can be difficult to detect.

– Illegal gambling marketing in social media and game streams is often difficult to recognise. Advertising can be hidden within entertaining content, making it hard for young people to realise that it is in fact marketing, warns Senior Sergeant Pasi Puumala from the Gaming Police project.

The internet is not the “Wild West”

The National Police Board intervenes in illegal gambling marketing. In the mildest cases, it provides guidance to bring activities in line with the law. It can also prohibit illegal marketing, with the prohibition enforceable by a conditional fine of tens of thousands of euros. Gambling offences can also lead to up to two years’ imprisonment. The consequences can therefore be significant.

In mainland Finland, only Veikkaus Oy is allowed to market gambling. Gambling marketing is prohibited regardless of the country from which it originates, if it is directed at consumers in mainland Finland. The National Police Board can intervene even if the marketer resides abroad.

Information at Gaming Police events

Issues related to gambling have raised much discussion at Gaming Police events. Police have engaged with gambling streamers and tried to influence their activities. Participants have been advised to report inappropriate or illegal conduct.

According to the Lotteries Act, marketing includes advertising, indirect advertising, and other sales promotion. For example, using a gambling company’s logo in the advertisement of another product can constitute indirect marketing.

Prohibited marketing includes the use of hashtags referring to a gambling company, displaying the logo of a gambling site, or other similar promotion of gambling. Commercial cooperation with a gambling company can also fall under the definition of marketing in the Lotteries Act.

Reports can be made anonymously

Illegal gambling marketing can be reported anonymously via the police’s online tip service (poliisi.fi/en/net-tip), or directly by email to the Gambling Administration of the National Police Board at arpajaishallinto@poliisi.fi.

Observations can also be reported to the Gaming Police officers. They can also provide advice on gambling-related issues and, if necessary, guide you to further support.

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Public trust in police remains high

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:28:00 GMT

Respectful treatment of people by the police and fair police activities affect people’s trust.

Around 85 per cent of the respondents considered that the police treat people with respect often or very often, while around 76 per cent considered that the police make fair and impartial decisions often or very often.

Trust in police activities is rather uniform across Finland. Trust is highest in Southwest Finland (around 95%) and Western Uusimaa (94%) and lowest in Eastern Finland (89%). There are no major differences in trust between different age groups or genders. However, trust seems to grow somewhat with age. Around 94 per cent of pensioners trust the police. Low-income and unemployed people trust the police less than others.

- Finnish people’s trust in the police is high. This barometer shows, once again, that we have skilled and well-trained police officers in Finland. One of the strengths of Finnish society is our trust in the police. They earn this trust every day through their field work and efforts to combat crime. This is something that we absolutely want to foster, says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

In addition to the police, Finns also trust other security authorities, such as the fire and rescue authorities. Trust in the activities of the emergency response centres and the Finnish Defence Forces is also high.

Concern about offences committed by young people is reflected in responses

The Police Barometer also measures the respondents' concern over different criminal phenomena. In the 2024 barometer, questions regarding offences committed by young people, organised crime, gang crime and fraud offences were added to the survey. Other criminal phenomena examined in the survey include assaults, sexual harassment, terrorism and hate crimes.

Around 84 per cent of the respondents were concerned about offences committed by young people, 73 per cent about offences committed with a firearm, 76 per cent about drug abuse and drug dealing in public places, and 73 per cent about organised crime and gang crime. The least concern was expressed over house burglaries (46%).

- We strive to address people's concerns. We have managed to halt the strong growth in the number of offences committed by young people, and the number of robbery offences has decreased significantly as well. We have also intervened in the increased drug dealing in public places and continued to refer drug users to treatment. Several international joint operations have been carried out to combat the import and distribution of drugs. The aim is to ensure that Finland continues to be one of the safest countries in the world, says National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskimäki.

It is necessary to revise the contents of the Police Barometer survey from time to time to ensure that the questions correspond to the changes that have taken place in the operating environment of the police. Both crime and police activities have changed. Organised crime and gang crime have increased in the Nordic countries, the threat of terrorism has grown in Europe, and cybercrime and international economic crime have taken new forms all over the world.

People still consider their own neighbourhood relatively safe

The Police Barometer also examines how serious the respondents feel the crime situation is in their neighbourhood. Approximately 72 per cent of the respondents did not consider the crime situation in their neighbourhood too serious. Around one in four respondents considered the situation fairly serious. The situation in Eastern Uusimaa differs from the other areas. As many as 34 per cent of the respondents living in the area considered the crime situation in their neighbourhood fairly or very serious. In Ostrobothnia, in contrast, only 16 per cent of the respondents considered that crime is a fairly or very serious problem in their neighbourhood.

Respondents were of the opinion that the police should be more visible in the daily lives of people than at present. According to respondents, greater police visibility would increase both the sense of security and actual security. In addition to police visibility, traffic surveillance and the investigation of violent and narcotics offences were now considered more important than before.

Looking at the big picture, the development took a negative turn in the mid-2010s. The reasons behind this are not fully known, but the decline in the number of police officers in the mid-2010s and the many changes that have occurred in crime may have affected the situation.

Property offences most often reported to police

Offences can be roughly divided into three main categories: property offences, violent offences and sexual offences. Around 77 per cent of property offences, such as house burglaries or attempted burglaries, are reported to the police. A report of an offence is filed in 32 per cent of violent offences, such as armed threats or robberies or attempts at these offences. Only 6–9 per cent of sexual offences are reported to the police.

The most common reason for not reporting an offence to the police is that the offence is not considered serious enough. This particularly applies to property offences. Reluctance to report an offence may also be influenced by the fact that the matter is considered private or the victim fears retaliation. These reasons are often related to violent and sexual offences.

Approximately 61 per cent of the respondents estimated that the police are relatively successful in preventing violent crime or threat of violence in Finland. Around half of the respondents were of the opinion that the police are relatively successful in catching burglars.

Background

The Police Barometer survey is carried out in cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior, the Police University College and Statistics Finland.

The aim of the Police Barometer is to study public opinion on police activities and the internal security situation in Finland. The survey data was collected during autumn 2024. A sample of 8,500 persons was selected in Statistics Finland's database on the population of Finland. The population of the survey consisted of persons aged between 15 and 79 residing in mainland Finland. A total of 4,164 persons responded to the survey, making the response rate around 49.0 per cent.

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Police University College to take part in local defense exercise

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:20:00 GMT

Led by the Armoured Brigade, the exercise seeks to develop the competence and cooperation of local troops. The exercise will involve Central Finland Police, the Rescue Department of Pirkanmaa, as well as municipalities, energy companies and several educational institutions in the area.

This is the first time that Police University College is taking part in the defense exercise at such a large scale. Over the course of the week, cooperation will be practiced and arrangements for education during a crisis will be planned among other things. During the week, the personnel and equipment involved in the exercise may be seen on roads in the area.

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Interesting events at the Police Museum on Police Day, August 30

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:30:00 GMT

Welcome to Hervanta in Tampere on Saturday, August 30 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. to talk with police officers and police students. Come and see, for example, a police motorcycle and ATV, various vehicles, the bicycle police, as well as police drone activities. Police horses will be there as well! During the day, you can watch a police dog demonstration and get to play with the gaming police. In addition, several free guided tours will be provided at the museum of the special exhibition Marias and Mörkös – Police Vehicles On and Off the Road (guided tours in Finnish).

You can find a detailed program for the day at poliisimuseo.fi/en/events. Information about Police Day events taking place elsewhere in Finland can be found at poliisi.fi/en/policeday.

The event in Hervanta, Tampere is organized by the Police Museum, Police University College and Central Finland Police Department.

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Follow-up study: The number of open cases in economic crime investigation has doubled

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The Police University College has published a study “Talousrikostutkinta poliisissa vuonna 2024” (Economic crime investigation by the Finnish police in 2024). The publication describes the views of economic crime investigation personnel of the Finnish police and the investigation process. The data has been compiled by means of a survey, and the results are compared with the corresponding data from 2015. The publication also presents police statistics on the number of economic crime cases in the 2000s.

More than 2,600 cases of economic crime were reported to the police in 2024, and nearly 2,200 criminal investigations were closed. There were 4,450 open cases at the end of 2024. The investigations recovered approximately 29 million euros in criminal proceeds, in other words as economic gain from criminal activities.

“There has been a distinct change in economic crime investigation since the mid-2010s. The number of open cases has doubled in ten years. At the same time, the amount of recovered proceeds of crime has become constantly smaller almost throughout this ten-year period,” comments Vesa Muttilainen, Senior Researcher of the Police University College.

Cases of economic crime are often complex and international

In the pre-trial investigation, the police classify cases of economic crime so that they are, among others, criminal cases related to business activities in which the goal is to obtain significant direct or indirect economic gain. The cases can be, for example, tax, accounting and debtor offences.

The cases under investigation are often complex and their document material is extensive. The respondents to the survey pointed out that challenges are also caused by missing materials, aspects related to the publicity of documents and the limitation of cases into entities to be investigated.

“The respondents to the survey think that it should be outlined clearly which cases are investigated by the economic crime units. The investigation processes should be described and good practices should be disseminated; as an example, the process should emphasize the preliminary processing of cases and the preparation of investigation. It should also be considered how investigation can be developed to meet the requirements of the changing operating environment,” notes Terhi Kankaanranta, Senior Researcher of the Police University College.

One of the facts that complicate the solving of economic crime is that it involves international connections, such as business operations transferred abroad or foreign bank accounts. The parties involved are also often of foreign background or live abroad. Moreover, these crimes utilize information networks and virtual banks to an increasing degree.

The average duration of the pre-trial investigation has increased

Based on the survey, economic crime investigation personnel spend more and more of their working hours investigating criminal cases that do not fall within the definition of economic crime. The investigators also work alone more than before. At the same time, there are less real-time investigations, which often require a lot of resources and teamwork. Through real-time investigation, the police can intervene in an ongoing criminal offence, which makes the investigation more efficient.

Because of the characteristics of economic crime and changes in investigative work, the duration of the investigation process has become longer. According to the statistics for 2024, the investigation of a case of economic crime took an average of almost 16 months, which is longer than at any time in the 2000s. The average time from the criminal event to the end of the investigation has increased clearly since the mid-2010s. In 2024, it was almost 32 months.

“The complexity and international nature of the cases together with the changes in the investigative work have affected how much criminal proceeds are recovered. Recovering the proceeds of crime usually requires real-time investigation, but the chances for this are not as good as before. There is an attempt to hide the proceeds of crime with the help of various virtual currencies, among other things, which brings an additional challenge to the matter. This is a tricky cycle, because the effectiveness of economic crime investigation is measured by issues such as the amount of criminal proceeds recovered,” says Superintendent Mika Ranki of the Police University College.

Competence and well-being at work are important success factors

According to the respondents, the key factors in the success of economic crime investigations include good supervision, sufficient resources, applicable competence, prioritization and outlining of cases, and effective co-operation.

The respondents were mainly satisfied with their work and were largely motivated to take care of their current tasks. On the other hand, more than one out of five felt burned out because of their work. Three out of four respondents had recommended a career in economic crime investigation. The changes from 2015 are minor.

“The survey shows that there is a desire to have more education in economic crime investigation. It should also be ensured that as many people as possible have access to education, irrespective of their official position. We must develop the methods of implementing education so that in addition to contact teaching, high-quality online studies are also available,” says Superintendent Mika Ranki.

Survey data from spring 2024

The study material was collected from the economic crime investigation personnel of the police using an electronic questionnaire in the spring of 2024. The target group consisted of 424 persons whose duties included economic crime investigations or tasks supporting it. There were 201 responses, giving a response rate of 47.4%.

The results of the follow-up study can be used in strategic planning, operational activities and education, among others.

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Pilot training course for gaming police officers at the Police University College

Fri, 16 May 2025 07:32:00 GMT

The Police University College is arranging police training related to policing in the gaming world for the first time. The aim of the "Basic Course on Gaming Police Operations" is to familiarize participants with a new form of policing and multi-professional work online and in digital gaming forums.

The training covers topics such as the safety of children and young people online and the risks of social digital gaming.

“Our training aims to provide police officers and anchor operators with the specialist expertise necessary to work with communities in the gaming world and online. In addition to basic professional skills, police officers need to know the language of the gaming field, understand gaming culture, and be able to spot harmful phenomena in the gaming world. They also need diverse communication and technology skills,” says Senior Constable Pasi Puumala, the course instructor.

Gaming police officers detect crime on digital gaming platforms

The GAMING POLICE project will develop new multidisciplinary activities to prevent, detect and combat harmful acts and crimes against children in the digital gaming world. The policing on gaming world helps to increase the presence of police online and improve operational capabilities on gaming platforms and discussion forums. It also provides help to at-risk groups and victims of crime. The project will focus especially on sexual violence against children, cybercrime and violent radicalization and extremism.

The gaming policy operation has expanded this spring. Gaming police officers can now be found in Ostrobothnia, Häme and Åland.

The gaming police officers have weekly events online. All events focus on a specific monthly theme such as traffic safety, glorification of criminal lifestyle or gambling. The themes have come either from children and the youth themselves, or they are based on the needs identified by police departments. Once a month the gaming event is multiprofessional. The participants can chat with different professionals within social welfare and health care and youth work specialists - and get help from them if needed. In addition, gaming police officers participate in various events and occasions.

“Because everything happens in the digital gaming world, the gaming police officers operate nationwide with no regional boundaries. Children and young people have participated in the events throughout Finland and also abroad,” says Pirjo Jukarainen, project manager from the Police University College.

“The core idea behind the initiative is to give children and young people the opportunity to chat with police officers and other anchor figures anonymously. It is also important that participation is voluntary, so the client can decide what they want to share and ask about, and when they want to do it. The gaming police will enable the police to reach out to a wide range of young people, such as those who have become marginalized and could not otherwise be reached at all."

The gaming police officers have uncovered crimes such as sexual offences against children, drug trafficking, money laundering and recruitment into crime and extremist movements. Young people themselves have also reported bullying, discrimination, hate speech and racism. The police tasks arising from such interactions have been taken forward as necessary, and young people have received help to protect themselves and break away from crime.

Anchor operators makes the Finnish gaming police operation unique

The three-year GAMING POLICE project is carried by the Police University College, the Häme and Ostrobothnia Police Departments, Åland Police, and the National Police Board. The project team also cooperates with other police units, stake holders and social actors.

Social welfare, health care and youth work specialists involved in the anchor activities play an important role as partners to the gaming police officers. Such close multiprofessional cooperation does not exist in other countries with gaming police operations, such as the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.

In addition, a wide range of stakeholders from public administration, the third sector, the gaming industry, universities and the international arena are involved in the project.

The GAMING POLICE project is funded by the EU Internal Security Fund (ISF).

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