Finnish police sometimes use a disproportionate amount of force and disperse protests unnecessarily, according to a new report by Amnesty Finland.
The human rights organisation that has been monitoring protests across Finland noted that the police have room for improvement in ensuring protest security and upholding freedom of assembly.
According to Amnesty, while police provided adequate security for the majority of demonstrations monitored by Amnesty in 2024, there were shortcomings in its operations.
Amnesty said it has witnessed several instances where police have used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations. It also stated that police do not always protect journalists covering protest.
The report noted that police have placed unwarranted obligations on demonstration organisers and also highlighted inconsistencies in practices among different police departments.
Examples of several shortcomings were seen in Helsinki during the Independence Day protests. Amnesty noted that police used horses to disperse the crowd, pushed people forcefully, and held people on the ground for long periods of time with their faces against wet asphalt.
It was earlier reported that two complaints have been filed with Finland's Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding police actions on that day.
Amnesty recommends that the National Police Board create guidelines for protest security and the protection of observers and journalists. It also suggests establishing protocols for actions required before dispersing a protest and advises against using horses and dogs as to intimidate.
This is Amnesty's third report on the state of freedom of assembly in Finland. In 2024, Amnesty volunteers monitored over 30 protests in more than ten locations across the country and also gathered information through interviews with activists and discussions with the police.