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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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: 22.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/rpk/2016/14/rpk_2016_14_2017-05-31_tie_001_en.html