An annual report by the Police University College shows that the number of suspected hate crimes continued to increase in 2024.

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