The operating environment of the Finnish police – like that of other security authorities – is undergoing a major change. Hybrid influencing targeted at Finland is increasing as internal and external security issues overlap each other. The operating environment has been particularly influenced by the return of large-scale and long-lasting warfare to Europe. Changes in the external security environment, in particular Russia’s war of aggression, are also reflected on the internal security of Finland, and the police must prepare for new and diverse security threats. Events affecting critical infrastructure in Finland and the surrounding areas have attracted extraordinary attention recently. During this century, the police have encountered completely new areas of responsibility, such as terrorism and war crimes, cybercrime, pandemics, instrumentalised migration, hybrid influencing and the street gang phenomenon. To combat the new threats, the police have been given more intelligence powers, such as the Civilian Intelligence Act and the Criminal Intelligence Act, which is still under preparation. The exchange of information between authorities is also being streamlined.
The police in Finland are the authority responsible for internal security, but at the same time the police are also the first responder in the prevention of several external security threats. The police are an authority of high-level operational response, providing security services every hour of the year. The police are constantly prepared to respond to all threats to internal security throughout Finland. Especially in sparsely populated areas and sea areas, co-operation with the Finnish Border Guard is highlighted. The goal of Finland’s security policy is to safeguard territorial integrity and to prevent Finland from becoming involved in a military conflict. A well-functioning and effective police force plays a significant role in reaching this goal. The police are the main source of operational response capabilities in the face of unclear threats as long as they have not been identified as military threats.
If Finland was to encounter unforeseen hostile military activity by a foreign state, the situation would probably require the immediate use of police powers as a first response to counter the threat. Both legally and operationally, it is clear that the Finnish Defence Forces together with the Border Guard are responsible for the military defence of Finland and for safeguarding territorial integrity. This is emphasised in the sea areas and airspace, where the military authorities have a high level of readiness to counter a military threat. However, the unconventional threats that are characteristic of the changed security environment may be unpredictable to such an extent that the police have the responsibility to perform the first response to the incident, especially when operating in the inland of Finland. By virtue of the Finnish Police Act, the police are tasked with safeguarding the legal and social order, protecting national security and maintaining public order and security. In addition to its own duties, the police are also the regional surveillance authority as referred to in the Finnish Territorial Surveillance Act, and are responsible for safeguarding territorial integrity.
If an unidentified and heavily armed troop appears at a rural wilderness airfield somewhere in Finland, a citizen first reports it to the general emergency number, and the nearest police patrol is alerted to the scene. No matter whether it is a question about foreign soldiers not wearing insignia of a foreign nation or an organised crime group, it is clear that public order and security are seriously endangered. In co-operation with the Defence Forces, the police will attempt to identify whether the situation primarily falls within the competence of the police or whether it is a task for the Defence Forces. Under normal conditions, the police are responsible for carrying out the assignment until the situation is identified as hostile military activity, for example. It should be noted that the efforts of the police as a first response authority may continue in that type of situation for a long time.
On the basis of legislation concerning executive assistance, the police have the opportunity to receive executive assistance from the Defence Forces and the Border Guard. The instrument of so-called demanding executive assistance enables the police to use the equipment and capabilities of the Defence Forces. In the changed security environment and in particular in unclear demanding internal security threats, this means that the police are able to utilise even heavy weapon systems and other capabilities intended for the use of military force even before the situation is interpreted to be a military threat.
Particular attention must be paid to the Åland Islands in the southwestern part of Finland. This is an autonomous and demilitarised area, which means that the Finnish Defence Forces are not present in the area under normal circumstances. Important energy, telecommunications and sea connections run via the Åland Islands, and according to the estimates made by authorities, the risk of hybrid influencing in Åland has increased. It is important to pay particular attention to the special status of the Åland Islands and to the threats against the area in the co-operation conducted between the Finnish police, the Åland police and the Finnish Border Guard so that the authorities have an immediate and effective response capability to counter threats detected in the area, such as threats against critical infrastructure.
Finally, it should be noted that there may be a high threshold for interpreting threats or influencing measures against Finland as military threats. This may mean that the police have a longer-term and more extensive responsibility for assignments that suggest military activity. Tasks that clearly fall within the competence of the police, such as the pipeline and cable breaks that have been encountered in the Baltic Sea, have also been demanding and long-lasting by nature. Duties related to countering hybrid operations and new threat scenarios require a high level of preparedness, capability and sufficient powers from the Finnish police. Intelligence is a key component in preventing and combatting threatening situations. The measures taken by the authorities will not be timely and sufficiently effective without an early warning, an adequate conception of the current situation and an assessment of the development of the situation. The direct and close exchange of information has been the strength of the Finnish authorities for decades. This approach can be used to ensure that all competent authorities have a correct conception of the current situation and that they are prepared to counter the threats also in the future.
Southwestern Finland Police Department
Finland
