She added that a series of reforms beginning soon will dramatically cut the number of police departments down from the current 24.
National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero says that it does not make sense to operate two separate organisations to monitor road transport.
"Under current laws, local police and Traffic Police have exactly the same duties when it comes to traffic surveillance. Two units are doing mostly the same work. I don't believe that this kind of structure makes sense going forward," Paatero said.
Besides safety and surveillance on the highways, the Traffic Police's duties include emergency duties, supporting local police in crime-solving, monitoring off-road and waterborne traffic, policing at Helsinki airport and protecting the President.
Within the next few weeks, the Interior Ministry will set up working groups to consider how the police organisation should be reformed in the face of state budget cuts. The new organisation could be in place by 2014.