Rikokset

Where to find help?

In case of a crime, call the Police. You can also call the general emergency number 112. Serious disturbance is also a police matter.

Everyone is entitled to report a crime to the police and the police have a responsibility to deal with the report. You can report a crime at your local police station, by phone, by fax, on the Internet or by informing a police patrol verbally face to face. The police website outlines the Details Required for Reporting a Crime. In some cases you can also report a crime online.

If you, or someone you know has fallen victim to a crime and are in need of support or advice, you can contact the Finnish Service for Crime Victims (Rikosuhripäivystys). The website contains information in Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, Somali, Arabic, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish and Spanish. Finnish Service for Crime Victims Offices are located across Finland. You can also call the helpline at 0203-16116 or legal helpline at 0203-16117.

The website of the Ministry of Justice has information on crime victims in the following languages:

Finnish
Plain Finnish
Swedish
English
Russian
Somali
Arabic (pdf)

Legal Aid means that a Finnish citizen can obtain a legal representative to help with legal matters either partially or entirely at government funding. However, legal aid will not be granted if the applicant has an insurance that covers legal costs. Legal Aid Offices are located throughout Finland. Links to you local Legal Aid Office are here.

More information on legal aid is available on the Ministry of Justice website in the following languages:

Finnish
Swedish
English
Russian
Sami

Information on racist crimes can be found in Racism and Discrimination.

The Info Bank website contains information on the duties of the police.