BSR Policy Briefing

BSR Policy Briefing 5/2026

The Evolution of Finnish Intelligence Legislation: Does Criminal Intelligence Legislation Enhance also National Security?
By Markus Laine

This BSR Policy Briefing examines Finland’s proposed new legislation on police criminal intelligence and asks how it would affect both crime prevention and national security. The author argues that Finland’s changing security environment has created a gap in the police’s ability to collect information early enough to prevent serious criminal threats. The proposed Criminal Intelligence Act would give the police limited, threat-based intelligence powers that could be used before a concrete criminal suspicion exists. The author argues that this would strengthen Finland’s ability to prevent serious crime and, indirectly, improve national security.