Haku

Rescue operations Rescue operations cover: receiving emergency calls issuing warnings to the public preventing potential accidents or hazards protecting people, property and the environment against danger, and rescuing accident victims extinguishi...

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...

2.9.2025 | Ms Henna Virkkunen Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Magnus Brunner European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration 29 August 2025 Dear Vice-President, Dear Commissioner, More than four years have passed since the beg...

14.10.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched a legislative project to make executive assistance provided by the police to child welfare and emergency social services free of charge. Free executive assistance cannot be implemented without a legislative amendment. The free executive assistance provided by the police would concern, for example, the search for a child who has left a child welfare institution without permission and the return of the child to the child welfare institution.

23.6.2021 | On 23 June, the Government submitted to Parliament a government proposal for a new act on executive assistance to the police by the Defence Forces. The key points of the proposal relate to the preparedness of the authorities, and the regulation on very exceptional situations and armed assistance. The aim is to update the legislation on executive assistance provided to the police.

18.2.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has prepared a proposal on changing the decree on fees charged by the police. The starting point for the proposal is that the provision of executive assistance provided to child welfare and social and crisis emergency services by the police would be free of charge in the futur. The aim is to guarantee that the most vulnerable individuals, such as children, will receive the required assistance in acute situations.

24.7.2024 | Finland will participate in a rescue service deployment by sending 48 experts in international civil protection to Portugal. These experts will be tasked with helping local authorities manage wildfires. The first of two groups will leave for Portugal at the beginning of August.

25.7.2023 | By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland is preparing to send 48 rescue workers to Portugal to help manage wildfires. The Emergency Services Academy Finland is the employer of the rescue service personnel who will be deployed to Portugal.

21.12.2022 | The start of 2023 will see the entry into force of amendments to acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes. 

29.7.2022 | By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland is sending 50 rescue workers to Greece to help manage wildfires. The Emergency Services Academy is the employer of the posted experts.

8.9.2022 | New provisions to be added to the Aliens Act and the act on migration authorities’ processing of personal data will enable Finland to make use of the support from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) as smoothly as possible in the event of a mass influx of migrants. The Government submitted the bills for approval on Thursday 8 September. The President of the Republic is to approve the bills for the acts on Friday. The acts will enter into force on 15 September.

19.9.2022 | The Government proposes approximately EUR 2,274 billion for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the 2023 Budget. This is about EUR 689 billion more than in the Budget approved for 2022. The amount is largely explained by the significant increases for internal security and preparedness in the decision on spending limits which the Government made in the spring after Russia had launched its war of aggression.

19.10.2021 | Finland and Sweden have signed an agreement on police cooperation in the border area in Tornionlaakso. Its purpose is to step up police cooperation between the two countries. Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo and Swedish Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg signed the agreement in Tornio on Tuesday 19 October.

18.12.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued a decree on fees charged by the police. For example, the prices of passports and identity cards will rise. The decree will enter into force on 1 January 2021.

21.4.2022 | New provisions to be added to the Aliens Act would enable Finland to make use of the support from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) as smoothly as possible in the event of a mass influx of migrants. The Government submitted a proposal on the amendments to Parliament on 21 April.

25.2.2020 | Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo awarded Medals of Merit First Class for Civil Defence and Medals of Merit Second Class for Civil Defence on 24 February. These Medals of Merit are awarded for meritorious or highly meritorious work for the good of civil defence.

10.1.2019 | The Government will strengthen the powers of the Finnish Border Guard to quickly and effectively intervene in hybrid threats. Better preparedness for hybrid threats will improve the Border Guard's crisis resilience and capacity to manage large-scale incidents. The Government submitted the amendments to the Border Guard Act, the Aliens Act and certain related acts for approval on 10 January. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on 11 January.

25.1.2018 | The Government plans to strengthen the powers of the Finnish Border Guard to quickly and effectively intervene in hybrid threats. Better preparedness for hybrid threats would improve the Finnish Border Guard's crisis resilience and capacity to manage large-scale incidents. On 25 January, the Government submitted a proposal for necessary legislative amendments to Parliament. The amendments are scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible.

17.3.2020 | The Government resolution to slow the spread of coronavirus infections and to protect at-risk groups, issued on 16 March 2020, states as follows (section 2):

17.3.2020 | The Government has decided to begin restricting cross-border traffic at Finland’s borders starting on Thursday 19 March at midnight. Border-crossing points will be closed and border controls will be reintroduced. The police will monitor, within the limits of their resources, compliance with the restrictions on public gatherings imposed due to the coronavirus and, if necessary, provide executive assistance to other authorities.