Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko (Cen) will propose allocating an additional 30 million euros to Finland's police force in next year's budget when the fourth supplementary draft is presented on Monday, according to a report by news agency STT.
Earlier this week, the Police Board announced plans to begin codetermination talks with staff representatives aimed at cutting up to 250 jobs, citing a government decision to reduce the force's budget for 2022.
Saarikko told STT that the decision to increase the police's allocation would ensure operations could continue as normal and would also strengthen the force's so-called 'economic buffer' against any unforeseen expenses.
"Until now, the police have relied on temporary allocations, such as any unused buffer, but now the buffer will be strengthened this year so that the police's financial base for next year can be secured," Saarikko said.
The minister pointed out that, as a result of the increased allocation, the police may now decide to end plans for codetermination talks, adding that she met with Chief of Police Seppo Kolehmainen on Friday to discuss the matter.
The additional funding could be used to prevent any reductions being made in the number of police personnel, Saarikko said, and would also help work towards increasing the number of officers to the government's goal of 7,500.
Audit into police budgets, expenditure
In addition, Saarikko announced that the Interior Ministry will appoint an independent auditor next week to look into the police's budgets and expenditure.
"At the same time, together with the Ministry of the Interior and the police, we are launching an audit on the use of police budget allocations in recent years and the future expenditure needs," Saarikko added.
Citing government sources, Helsingin Sanomat reported earlier this week that there are question marks over where all the police's money is spent, with expensive IT projects mentioned as one cash drain.
The interior ministry's chief of staff Kirsi Pimiä told Yle that the two- or three-person external audit team could possibly consist of researchers or auditors from Finland's National Audit Office (VTV).
The audit would be carried out under the guidance of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance, Pimiä added, with a report expected by the end of the year.
"Some people have already been tentatively contacted. I think we will get the decision to begin early next week," she said.