On Monday police expect to receive new directives on the granting of firearms licenses. The new guidelines are also expected to emphasise that existing regulations are to be closely observed.
So far it has emerged that new procedures will require the presence of two police officers during interviews for the granting of gun licenses.
At a safety and defence conference in Lahti, Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero said that the tighter regulations received their finishing touches Friday. Under the new guidelines, police may follow up on doctors' certificates provided as part of the application process.
The police chief said that communication of the revised directives has been fast-tracked to Monday, because of reports that processing of existing gun license applications may be suspended altogether.
On Friday YLE made a round of calls to police precincts across Finland and discovered that a decision has been taken in areas such as Haukipudas and Liminka to freeze processing of new gun license applications. However in districts such as Turku, Tampere, Savonlinna ja Rovanimi, processing of gun licenses continued normally.
Changes to procedures for the granting of firearms licenses came into force following last Tuesday's shooting rampage at the Kauhajoki Vocational High School.