With police in Finland receiving more threats, authorities are considering setting up a personal safety unit to protect them. Officers working on cases related to drugs, violence and financial crimes have become the prime targets of threats from criminal elements.
When officials are threatened, home and family are usually the first targets, says Jari Arnio, of the Helsinki Police Drug Unit. He adds that threats of physical abuse, shooting or explosions are often used to get the message across.
In Finland, police receive thousands of such threats annually, and usually a dozen or so are serious enough to warrant special protection for the officers involved.
Police Inspector Arto Hankilanoja says such intimidation most often comes from organised crime and is taken seriously. He adds that when criminals face long prison sentences and the prospect of losing their assets, they may think it expedient to threaten officials.
Officials in Finland are now considering forming a cross-sectoral personal safety unit to deal more efficiently with intimidation. The unit would provide more training and instructions on how to deal with these situations, along with support, know-how, consultation and technical support.
In Finland there are currently no so-called safe houses, but victims of intimidation and their families may be taken to hotels or other forms of temporary accommodation for their safety. For the most part, the authorities have been able to avoid violent incidents. That's because they have received advance information using methods such as wiretapping, which have allowed them to shield officers from danger.