Home > Statistics > Offences known to the police > 2014 > 3rd quarter > Number of offences declined by 2.4 and that of traffic offences by 14.1 per cent in January to September 2014

Published: 15 October 2014

Number of offences declined by 2.4 and that of traffic offences by 14.1 per cent in January to September 2014

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, a total of 316,800 offences were recorded by the police, customs and border guard from January to September 2014, which is 7,800 cases (2.4 per cent) fewer than in the corresponding period of one year earlier. The number of property offences recorded was 183,800, which was the same amount as in 2013. The recorded number of crimes against life and health was 26,300, which is 2,300 cases (8.1 per cent) lower than in the respective period of the previous year. In addition, 294,900 cases of endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions were registered, which is 48,300 cases fewer (14.1 per cent) than one year before.

Offences and endangerment of traffic safety in 2009 to 2014

Exceeding speed limits towards the end of 2012 were recorded erroneously in the early part of 2013

In January to September 2014, a total of 16,700 frauds were recorded, which is 4.3 per cent lower than in the year before. The number of frauds (fraud, petty fraud, aggravated fraud) has grown considerably over the 2000s. In the 2000s, the average number of frauds has been 11,100 in January to September. In January to September 2014, a total of 920 aggravated frauds were recorded, which is 7.9 per cent more than one year earlier.

During January to September 2014, means of payment frauds numbered 5,800, which is 140 cases (2.3 per cent) fewer than in the previous year. The recorded number of aggravated means of payment frauds was 98, which is 5 cases fewer than one year earlier. In the 2000s, the average number of means of payment frauds has been 3,100 from January to September.

The number of robberies reported was 1,300, which was 16.4 per cent more than in January to September 2013, but as much as the average for the previous ten years. Altogether, 140 aggravated robberies were reported.

During January to September 2014, a total of 109,800 theft offences (thefts, petty thefts and aggravated thefts) were reported, which was 2,000 cases more (1.9 per cent) than last year. The number of aggravated thefts went up by 20.0 per cent. A total of 2,700 of them were recorded. The number of break-ins into houses recorded was 4,800, which was 570 cases (13.5 per cent) more than in 2013. In the 2000s, the average number of break-ins into houses has been 5,400 from January to September.

The recorded number of unauthorised uses and thefts of a motor vehicle and thefts of use of a motor vehicle was 6,100, which was 2.9 per cent lower than in the January to September period of 2013. From the early 2000s, the number of these offences has fallen to one third.

In January to September 2014, altogether 33,000 damages to property were recorded, which is 1.1 per cent fewer than the year before. In the 2000s, the average number of damages to property has been 37,700 from January to September.

The number of assault offences recorded was 24,600 during January to September 2014, which was 2,100 cases (8.0 per cent) fewer than in the corresponding period of the year before. In previous years of the 2000s, the average number of assault offences in January to September has been 24,100. Compared with January to September 2013, aggravated assaults went down by 8.6 per cent. A total of 1,200 of them were recorded. 

In January to September 2014, the number of rapes recorded was 760, against 750 one year earlier. Over the past ten years, the average number of rapes has been 610 in the January to September period. The recorded number of sexual exploitations of a child was 1,100, which is 16.6 per cent fewer than in the year before. Detected sexual exploitations of a child have increased considerably in recent years. The numbers of rapes and sexual exploitations of a child vary much yearly. Individual reports of an offence may include a series of incidents comprising several criminal acts.

The number of drunken driving was 13,400 in January to September 2014, which is 2.1 per cent down from the corresponding period of the year before. Nearly one-half of the recorded drunken driving cases were aggravated drunken driving. Aggravated drunken driving decreased by 7.9 per cent and other drunken driving increased by 4.0 per cent. Over the last ten years, 18,200 cases of drunken driving were recorded between January and September, on average.

The number of narcotics offences recorded was 15,800, which is down by 7.9 per cent from the year before. The number of aggravated narcotics offences went down by 9.2 per cent. A total of 830 of them were recorded.

The presentation of the statistics was revised as of the beginning of 2009. Endangerment of traffic safety and traffic offences are separated from other offences and they are presented in a separate table. The total number of offences is comparable with earlier figures, because the same division has also been made retrospectively until 1980. The aim of the revision is to improve the comparability of offences between different years and enhance their international comparability. The quality description of the statistics contains annually more detailed information about revisions but it is regrettably only published in Finnish.

From the beginning of 2009, offences recorded by the customs and border guard are also included. The change does not have much effect on the comparability of offences. Of the most common types of offences the change primarily affects the comparability of narcotics offences.

Number of certain types of offences in July, August and September, and in January to September 2014 and change from the corresponding period of the previous year

Offence	July		August		September		January-September
	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change
All offences 1)	38,970	-2,506	38,193	-2,879	37,417	-2,476	316,839	-7,811
Burglary	3,175	-160	3,086	-203	3,028	-64	25,601	1,214
Unauthorised uses and thefts of a motor vehicle, thefts of use of a motor vehicle	878	-125	835	-118	839	-80	6,061	-176
Robbery	151		181	44	174	40	1,290	182
Damage to property	4,188	-696	3,457	-852	4,079	43	32,957	-364
Manslaughter, murder and killing	13	3	8	3	5	-5	79	6
Assault	2,763	-504	2,966	-2	2,532	-290	24,559	-2,148
Rape	82	-30	95	10	109	-5	757	9
Drunken driving	1,737	58	1,592	-57	1,644	-47	13,440	-284
Narcotics offences	1,726	-100	1,787	-175	1,988	-231	15,826	-1,355

1) Excl. endangerment of traffic safety, hit-and-run, traffic infraction, violation of social welfare legislation on road traffic, and motor vehicle infraction.

Number of endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions in July, August and September, and in January to September 2014 and change from the corresponding period of the previous year

Offence	July		August		September		January-September
	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change
Endangerment of traffic safety, hit-and-run, traffic infraction, violation of social welfare legislation on road traffic and motor vehicle infraction	33,293	-4,187	33,892	-5,000	38,291	-1,193	294,864	-48,259
-exceeding speed limits 1)	24,569	-3,631	24,729	-3,656	26,364	1,128	205,569	-38,140

1) Cases of exceeding speed limits registered as endangerment of traffic safety, aggravated endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions.

Source: Offences known to the police 2014, 3. quarter

Inquiries: Kimmo Haapakangas 029 551 3252, rikos@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Development of certain types of offences in January to September 2010 to 2014 (preliminary data) (15.10.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Number of endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions in January to September 2010 to 2014 (preliminary data) (15.10.2014)

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Updated 15.10.2014