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Police The Ministry of the Interior guides and directs the police service, and prepares related legislation. The purpose of police work is to ensure the safety of people and the environment. The National Police Board guides and directs operational...

Police agencies and responsibilities Police agencies include the National Police Board, local police departments, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Police University College. The National Police Board directs the activities of the polic...

Government Programme measures in the police sector The Government Programme aims to strengthen security and society's resilience. Police presence will be secured throughout the country. The Government will step up the combating of crime to improve...

The police maintain public order and security The duty of the police is to secure the rule of law; maintain public order and security; prevent, detect and investigate crimes; and submit cases to prosecutors for the consideration of charges. The po...

28.5.2026 | The President of the Republic approved the bill on establishing a police reserve on Friday 22 May 2026. Today, the Government issued decrees laying down provisions on the possibility of appointing police students to the police reserve and on the studies required of reserve police officers.

25.6.2026 | The Government has submitted a government proposal for legislation on police criminal intelligence to Parliament. The proposal includes an amendment to the Police Act that would introduce provisions on criminal intelligence methods and their use in threat‑informed criminal intelligence. It would also strengthen the police’s secret intelligence collection powers used to prevent and detect individual offences.

21.5.2026 | The Government will establish a police reserve in Finland to ensure the police have sufficient resources in exceptional circumstances. In its session, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the bill on establishing a police reserve on Friday 22 May. Most of the legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

7.5.2026 | The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve amendments to the provisions on the powers of the police to carry out undercover activities in an information network. The amended legislation is scheduled to enter into force on 1 August 2026.

16.4.2026 | The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal for an act on the automated search and exchange of information for European police cooperation. The proposal would introduce amendments to national legislation required by the EU regulation known as Prüm II.

5.3.2026 | The Government intends to establish a police reserve in Finland to ensure sufficient police resources in all circumstances. The threshold for deploying the reserve would be high. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 5 March. Most of the legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

19.2.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has today sent out for comments a draft government proposal for legislation on police criminal intelligence. The reform would enable the use of criminal intelligence methods in the fight against serious crime on a threat-informed basis. The deadline for submitting comments is 16 April 2026.

26.1.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has supplemented the decree on fees charged for services provided by the police in 2026 with licence fees related to gambling services under the new Gambling Act. The new fees will be charged for an exclusive licence, a gambling licence and an authorisation for international cooperation for the holder of an exclusive licence or a gambling licence. The fees will also be charged for the alteration of an exclusive licence or a gambling licence.

10.11.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior is requesting comments on a draft government proposal for the establishment and deployment of a police reserve. The aim is to ensure that the police have sufficient resources in all circumstances. The draft proposal also includes an amendment concerning the qualification requirements for the Master of Police Services degree. The deadline for submitting comments is 22 December 2025.

18.12.2025 | The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal to specify provisions on police powers to conduct undercover activities in an information network.

22.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on fees charged by the police and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and be effective until 31 December 2026.

19.8.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched a project to review the provisions concerning powers related to undercover activities conducted in an information network by the police, who are the general authorities responsible for crime prevention. The project will run from 22 August to 28 November 2025.

5.9.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a government proposal aiming to specify the provisions concerning powers related to undercover activities conducted in an information network by the police. The deadline for submitting comments is October 16, 2025.

26.6.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to specify the powers of the police to intercept the path of unmanned aircraft, i.e. drones, and other unmanned devices. The aim of the project is to ensure the ability of the police to detect and identify drones and other unmanned devices, and to specify the regulation on the use of force to intercept the path of such devices.

31.3.2026 | The authorities and the state leadership are monitoring changes in the security situation, assessing future risks and ensuring that our society continues to function in all circumstances. Finland is not currently facing a military threat. 

29.8.2025 | Public trust in the police has remained stable for a long time. Of those who responded to the latest Police Barometer survey, 92 per cent trust the police a lot or a fair amount. Respectful treatment of people by the police and fair police activities affect people’s trust.

19.12.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on fees charged by the police and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2025.

17.11.2022 | The provisions of the Police Act on secret intelligence gathering methods and apprehending wanted persons are to be updated and clarified. The Government submitted its proposal to Parliament on 17 November.

Property and traffic offences the most common types of crime The crime rate has mainly shown a downward trend in Finland in recent decades. Property and traffic offences remain the most common types of crime. Property offences account for just und...

4.7.2024 | On Thursday 4 July, the Government appointed Licentiate of Laws, trained on the bench Ilkka Koskimäki as National Police Commissioner for a term of five years from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2029.

16.1.2025 | The Government has issued a decree bringing into force the agreement on police cooperation in the border area between Finland and Sweden. The agreement will enter into force on 1 February 2025.

10.4.2024 | A total of 8 candidates applied for the post of National Police Commissioner at the National Police Board by the deadline. The post will be filled for a maximum term of five years, starting on 1 September 2024. The National Police Commissioner is appointed by a government plenary session.

3.9.2024 | “Next year’s budget proposal shows that the Government has the will to strengthen security. In Finland, help is available in times of need,” says Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior.

16.5.2024 | The agreement on police cooperation in the border area between Finland and Sweden will further improve the maintenance of security in the northern border area. The President of the Republic is to approve the agreement and the relevant bills on Friday.

Small ministry, large branch of government The National Police Board and the Finnish Immigration Service operate under the Ministry of the Interior. The agencies provide guidance within their scope of activities. The Finnish Border Guard is respon...

Oversight of legality at agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government The agencies within the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government bear the main responsibility for practical oversight activities and the handling of matters relate...

Frequently asked questions about criminal intelligence legislation Why are the intelligence collection powers of the police being strengthened? One of the key objectives of the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is to step up th...

Hunting and target practice popular recreational activities in Finland Finland is a country of hunters and gun enthusiasts. There are approximately 460,000 licence holders and slightly under 1.5 million licensed firearms in Finland. Responsibility...

Racist crimes account for most hate crimes There is no single universally agreed definition of hate crime. A hate crime is generally taken to mean any criminal act which is motivated by prejudice or hostility against groups of people that the vict...

Answers to questions about biometric data regulation What is biometric data? Biometric data means personal data that result from technical processing, such as facial images and fingerprints, and allow the unique identification of a person. Who mak...

Money collection is subject to licence or notification The new Money Collection Act entered into force on 1 March 2020. The purpose of the Act is to streamline the process of fundraising through money collection and to ensure that civil society ca...

Departments and units Police Department The Police Department deals with matters concerning the police administration under the National Police Board, combating crime, public order and security, licencing, firearms, gambling policy, the private se...

Strengthening crime prevention The Ministry of the Interior is carrying out several legislative projects which, in line with the Government Programme, aim to strengthen crime prevention. The key means include drafting regulation on threat-informed...

24.8.2023 | On Thursday 24 August, the Government reappointed Tomi Vuori, Master of Laws with court training, as Director General of the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior for the next five-year term (1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028).

Finland’s National Cyber Security Strategy promotes a comprehensive approach to tackling cybercrime.

Contact information of the management, departments and units Email addresses are in the format [email protected] , unless otherwise indicated. Management Mari Rantanen, Minister of the Interior, tel. +358 295 418 800 Matti Sarasmaa, Permanent Secr...

Trafficking in human beings is a serious offence Trafficking in human beings is a serious offence, where perpetrators subjugate their victims. Usually, the objective is to exploit the victims commercially or to gain some other profit. As trafficki...

Removal and departure from the country If a person does not meet the conditions for legal stay in Finland, they are required to leave the country. This applies, for example, to persons whose asylum or residence permit application has been rejected...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing war extended until 4 March 2028 Type: Press release Publication date: 31.7.2026 13.13 Proposal to supplement legislation on Finnish Border Guard’s criminal ...

24.3.2023 | Superintendent Pekka Kokkonen, Head of the Police Dog Training Centre of the Police University College, has been appointed to serve as Senior Police Coordinator in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the preparation of migration policy and legislation

Activities of the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government in the war in Ukraine As part of the European Union, Finland is doing its part for Ukraine with respect to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression. In particular, we want to prote...

Archive: Press releases and news Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing war extended until 4 March 2028 Organization: Ministry of the Interior Type: Press release Categories: Publication date: 31.7.2026 Proposal to supplement legislation on F...

Interoperability

Gambling legislation helps to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm In Finland, gambling games are run by the state-owned company Veikkaus Oy. In line with the Government Programme, the gambling system will be reformed by introducing licences t...

The aim is to extend the validity of Finnish passports to 10 years.

Organised crime has a major impact on society There is no single precise definition of the concept of organised crime. Organised crime usually refers to a group of individuals that systematically commits serious crimes. These activities may take v...

Counter-terrorism focuses on effective prevention Counter-terrorism in Finland is a joint effort of public authorities and societal actors. In Finland, the main responsibility for counter-terrorism lies with the police. The focus is on preventive ...

Key changes in firearms legislation in recent years

Fight against organised crime The fight against organised crime in Finland is based on ensuring the safety and security of society under all circumstances, broad-based cooperation within society, knowledge-based operating models, and respect for f...

Temporary protection for people fleeing from Ukraine Temporary protection is intended for people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Granting temporary protection makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people...

Cybercrime knows no borders Cybercrime refers to criminal activities that take place online or exploit information networks and systems. A growing number of crimes reported to the police now involve the use of these technologies in some way. Cyber...

Increased use of guards and security stewards The private security sector covers guarding services, security steward services, security system installation services and security check services. Locksmiths and installers of burglar alarms are examp...

Operations and finances The appropriations for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the state budget for 2026 are approximately EUR 2.09 billion. The ministry directs a wide administrative branch employing over 17,000 inter...

The Ministry of the Interior is the ministry for internal security The Ministry’s vision is a safe and secure society in all situations. Our objective is to keep people, property and the environment safe and for all people to live safe everyday li...

Emergency response centres receive emergency calls Emergency response centres receive emergency calls for the rescue, police and health and social services, and relay the information they receive to the appropriate assisting authorities or partner...