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 police are responsible for maintaining public order and security by patrolling, handling emergency duties, providing advice and guidance, and preventing unlawful activity. Ensuring traffic safety is an important part of this work.

The purpose of police work is to ensure the safety of people and the environment and prevent all violations of the law and disturbances by eliminating and investigating all such incidents. The tasks of the police are defined in the Police Act.

The police cooperate with other authorities and with local residents and communities in maintaining security.

The police are active in the social media

Preventive action plays an important part in maintaining people's sense of security. Crime prevention refers to actions taken to stop crimes before they happen.

A key part of preventive action is community policing, which constitutes carrying out basic police functions competently and efficiently in close contact with residents. The purpose of community policing is to provide both security and a sense of security, to reduce and prevent crime and disturbances, and thereby to promote a positive image of the police while maintaining a high level of public confidence in them.

The activities of the police in the social media support police presence and make the police easier to approach. The police can reach a large number of people via social media.

Vision of zero fatalities in traffic

Ensuring traffic safety requires the combined efforts of several bodies. The long-term vision is to have zero traffic fatalities or serious injuries. The EU’s long-term ‘Vision Zero’ goal is to reduce the number of road fatalities to zero by 2050. 

Police traffic enforcement and other preventive measures, such as communications, improve traffic safety.

Everyone is responsible for improving safety

Combating crime and preventing accidents and disturbances call for structured cooperation between the police and other authorities and parties. Regional and local security plans lay the foundation of our everyday security.

Local security planning aims to prevent and stop accidents, crime and disturbances, and to reinforce people's sense of security. Another aim is to better inform residents of how their security and sense of security will be improved. The security plan is also a channel through which residents can influence decision-making on security issues. Municipalities can make a security plan on their own, or in partnership with several other municipalities. It is also possible to draw up a regional-level security plan.

The police are among the most important actors in this work, but responsibility for improving and maintaining security and resident satisfaction rests with each and every one of us. Local security plans cover not only protection against crime but also matters such as fire safety, traffic safety, security under emergency conditions, and accidents.