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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

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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Updated 31.5.2017

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Statistics on offences and coercive measures [e-publication].
ISSN=2342-9178. Coercive measures 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/rpk/2016/14/rpk_2016_14_2017-05-31_tie_001_en.html