Swedish and Finnish Police to Operate in Both Countries
Now Swedish and Finnish police will have the opportunity to respond to urgent calls in both countries—and intervene directly.
This is the first time that foreign patrols have been allowed to work in Finland.
“We believe and hope that people will feel safer,” says Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner in Sweden.
The new cooperation agreement, which comes into force on July 1, means that Swedish and Finnish police will be able to respond to urgent calls in both countries.
In addition, both countries have the right to intervene directly in emergency situations, even without a request, if necessary to avert a serious threat to people’s lives and health.
“As everyone knows, there are not that many police officers here, so cooperation is a big deal,” says Finnish Deputy National Police Commissioner Sanna Heikinheimo.
Allowed to Use Service Weapons in More Cases
This is the first time that a foreign police patrol can independently carry out alarm missions in Finland. In addition, the conditions regarding firearms will change for the Swedish police.
“With the new law, the Swedish police will, among other things, be able to use weapons under legal authority instead of only in self-defense. That is how it is in Finland and that is one of the things that has made it difficult to cooperate fully in the past,” says Mikael Rova, local police district chief in eastern Norrbotten.
Source: SVT (in Swedish)