Government proposes police reserve in Finland

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.

The police reserve could be deployed in the event of serious incidents under normal conditions, in emergency conditions and in a state of defence. The reserve would be part of the police organisation. The reserve would only be deployed if it was necessary to safeguard the resources of the police. The decision when to deploy the reserve or to end the deployment would be made by the Minister of the Interior on the proposal of the National Police Commissioner.

The police reserve would consist of both police students at a specific stage in their studies and individuals who have completed police training but do not work as police officers, including retired employees and those working in other positions. Participation in the reserve would be voluntary, and the reserve would comprise approximately 400 to 500 people.

Reserve police officers would serve in fixed-term public-service employment relationships within the police and would work under liability for acts in office. They would perform police duties and exercise police powers. Police students would, however, work under the supervision and real-time direction of a police officer in a permanent public post. Training and up-to-date skills would be essential for an effective reserve.

Changes to prior studies required for Master’s degree

As a separate matter from the reserve, the government proposal also includes an amendment to the qualification requirements for the Master of Police Services degree. 

Currently, the qualification requirement for the Master’s degree is an applicable Bachelor’s degree in a university of applied sciences or other applicable university degree. In future, the Police University College could also admit to studies leading to the Master’s degree a person who is deemed to have sufficient knowledge and skills for the studies, and who has at least three years of work experience as a police officer in Finland.

Inquiries:
Katariina Simonen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 212, [email protected]