Published: 31 May 2017
Number of searches of data contained in a device growing
According to Statistics Finland's data, the police, customs and border guard used coercive measures 197,500 times in 2016. The number was 260 coercive measures (0.1 per cent) higher than one year previously. Good one-quarter of the coercive measures were apprehensions based on the Police Act (taking intoxicated persons into custody), where it is a question of ensuring the safety of the person or his or her environment. Other types of coercive measures were almost always connected to investigating the guilt of a suspect or ensuring the criminal process. In all, 5.3 per cent more searches of data contained in a device were performed than one year previously.
Coercive measures of the police, customs and border guard in 2007 to 2016
At the beginning of 2014, new coercive measures came into force: search of data contained in a device and search of premises. A search of data contained in a device refers to a search directed to the data content contained in a computer, a terminal end device or in another corresponding technical device or information system. In 2016, altogether 5,800 searches of data contained in a device were performed, which is 5.3 per cent more than in 2015. A search of premises refers to a search conducted elsewhere than in a public place but not a domicile. Searches of premises numbered 6,350, most of which were carried out to find an object or property to be confiscated. Compared with the previous year, 12.7 per cent more searches of premises were performed.
The number of intoxicated persons taken into custody has fallen in recent years. The number of intoxicated persons taken into custody was 56,600 in 2016, which is 3,200 cases (5.3 per cent) lower than in 2015. Taking intoxicated persons into custody is a coercive measure based on the Police Act, where the object of the coercive measure is usually not suspected of an offence.
In 2016, a total of 23,700 apprehensions were made, which is 980 cases (4 per cent) fewer than in the year before. The number of arrests was 9,500, down by 50 cases (0.5 per cent) from one year earlier. The number of apprehensions was 2,300, which is 60 cases (2.5 per cent) more than in 2015 and 6.7 per cent more than in 2014. Altogether, 640 travel bans were enforced, which is seven per cent more than in 2015.
At the beginning of 2016, a coercive measure concerning detention of foreigners entered into force. Such detentions of foreigners were performed 1,080 times during 2016. The most common reason for the detention of a foreigner was that a foreigner would hinder the preparation and enforcement of decision-making concerning him or her by hiding or running or in some other way. This was the basis for around 850 cases. Another common reason for detention was that a foreigner was suspected of a crime. This reason was used around 150 times.
A majority of coercive measures against freedom were directed at Finnish citizens. Apprehensions based on the Police Act are often taking intoxicated persons into custody, but this group also includes other temporary apprehensions to ensure that domestic or public premises are not invaded. Information on nationality is based on police records.
Coercive measures against freedom by nationality 2016
| Nationality | Total | Apprehension | Arrest | Remand | Detention of a foreigner | Prohibition to travel | Apprehension based on the Police Act / Persons taken into custody while intoxic |
| Finland | 79,435 | 19,128 | 7,533 | 1,639 | 1 | 508 | 50,626 |
| Estonia | 3,123 | 1,139 | 345 | 100 | 172 | 27 | 1,340 |
| Iraq | 2,140 | 586 | 260 | 79 | 64 | 24 | 1,127 |
| Romania | 1,108 | 352 | 277 | 97 | 123 | - | 259 |
| Russia | 962 | 309 | 171 | 45 | 50 | 10 | 377 |
| Somalia | 745 | 142 | 62 | 9 | 36 | 2 | 494 |
| Sweden | 484 | 128 | 82 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 238 |
| Afghanistan | 460 | 121 | 45 | 8 | 36 | 3 | 247 |
| Foreign country unk | 402 | 95 | 22 | 10 | 7 | - | 268 |
| Poland | 275 | 69 | 48 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 124 |
| Latvia | 252 | 85 | 35 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 97 |
| Marocco | 246 | 83 | 29 | 13 | 41 | - | 80 |
| Gambia | 240 | 121 | 24 | 4 | 69 | 1 | 21 |
| Lithuania | 230 | 73 | 64 | 39 | 9 | 1 | 44 |
| Without nationality | 204 | 77 | 33 | 17 | 30 | 2 | 45 |
| Turkey | 161 | 55 | 34 | 12 | 21 | 3 | 36 |
| Algeria | 152 | 51 | 25 | 9 | 32 | 1 | 34 |
| Belarus | 151 | 71 | 23 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 21 |
| Iran | 138 | 41 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 59 |
| Nigeria | 134 | 52 | 13 | 11 | 38 | 1 | 19 |
| India | 125 | 66 | 8 | 5 | 37 | 1 | 8 |
| Bulgaria | 102 | 37 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 32 |
| Other | 2,482 | 789 | 333 | 138 | 234 | 41 | 947 |
Reason for ending an apprehension, arrest and detention of a foreigner 2015 and 2016
| Reason for ending | 2015 | 2016 |
| Total | 34,210 | 34,268 |
| Apprehension or arrest, total | 34,210 | 33,189 |
| -Free | 27,753 | 27,009 |
| -Sent | 4,118 | 4,089 |
| -Change of measure | 646 | 539 |
| -Deceased | - | 2 |
| -Deportation | 21 | 18 |
| -Extradition | 1,082 | 1,040 |
| -Turned back | 30 | 26 |
| -Escaped | 1 | 5 |
| -Transfer | 559 | 461 |
| Detentions of foreigners, total | - | 1,079 |
| -Execution of extradition | - | 812 |
| -Execution of a removal order | - | 44 |
| -Preconditions for detention no longer exist for other reasons | - | 163 |
| -Detention of a foreigner is still valid | - | 60 |
The number of bodily searches and physical examinations and possible confiscations related to them increased by nine per cent from the previous year. Their number was 28,300 in 2016. Confiscations and house searches possibly made in their connection numbered 38,300, which is 410 cases (1.1 per cent) more than in the year before. The number of confiscations and house searches has decreased considerably compared to 2013 as part of them are now recorded as searches of premises or searches of data contained in a device.
In all, 7,800 examinations of state of intoxication with a precision breathalyser were recorded in 2016, which was 400 cases (5.1 per cent) fewer than in 2015. The number of examinations of state of intoxication with a blood test was 11,700 in 2016, which was 100 cases (1.1 per cent) more than in 2015. Examinations of state of intoxication in order to detect narcotics use increased by 7.1 per cent and examinations to determine the blood alcohol level declined by 1.9 per cent from 2015. The numbers were relatively low for other types of coercive measures. A total of 25,800 coercive measures were directed to women, being 13.1 per cent of all coercive measures. Women's shares were small in all types of coercive measures.
Investigations of drunken driving in 2015 and 2016
| Investigation/year | 2015 | 2016 |
| Breath alcohol | 8,206 | 7,790 |
| Request to examine state of intoxication | 11,538 | 11,662 |
| Of which | ||
| ...Blood alcohol | 6,705 | 6,576 |
| ...Narcotics | 6,123 | 6,555 |
| ...Consumption after driving | 1,644 | 1,461 |
| ...Theoretical statement on state of intoxication | 237 | 199 |
Reason for apprehension leading to examination of state of intoxication and vehicle 2016
| Vehicle/reason | Total | Other reason | Stop check | Informing | Abnormal driving style | Traffic accident | Other traffic infraction | Other offence | Speeding |
| Total | 19,452 | 4,770 | 4,397 | 3,979 | 1,890 | 1,862 | 1,031 | 910 | 612 |
| Passenger car | 16,297 | 4,089 | 3,542 | 3,385 | 1,603 | 1,585 | 858 | 707 | 528 |
| Van | 1,147 | 240 | 360 | 255 | 96 | 68 | 43 | 58 | 27 |
| Moped | 693 | 168 | 106 | 132 | 110 | 65 | 72 | 35 | 5 |
| Water transport | 379 | 91 | 196 | 29 | 29 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 14 |
| Motorcycle | 294 | 56 | 63 | 34 | 25 | 45 | 22 | 14 | 35 |
| Lorry, truck | 230 | 42 | 78 | 61 | 11 | 18 | 10 | 10 | - |
| Other vehicle | 144 | 33 | 19 | 36 | 6 | 32 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| Tractor, earth-mover, grader | 89 | 23 | 6 | 28 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 7 | - |
| Not drunken driving | 75 | 12 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 59 | - |
| Snowmobile | 56 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 2 | - |
| Bus | 19 | 3 | 5 | 6 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Special vehicle | 13 | - | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bicycle | 7 | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | 1 | - |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 5 | - |
| Rail transport | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
The statistics on Offences known to the police and on Coercive measures were combined in March 2015. Data released prior to that can be found on the old home pages of the statistics. The web pages of the statistics on Offences known to the police: http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/polrik/index_en.html and of the statistics on Coercive measures: http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/pkei/index_en.html
Source: Statistics on offences and coercive measures 2016. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Kimmo Haapakangas 029 551 3252, rikos@stat.fi
Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma
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Appendix tables
Updated 31.5.2017
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Statistics on offences and coercive measures [e-publication].
ISSN=2342-9178. Coercive measures 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 21.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/rpk/2016/14/rpk_2016_14_2017-05-31_tie_001_en.html