There has been a rise in the number of reported homicides and attempted homicides. The number of police calls related to domestic violence has also increased, but fewer reports of domestic violence have been filed.

In the first few months of 2012, over 11,600 cases of assault came to police attention. This is a decrease of about 10 percent on last year’s figures, but 2011 was an exceptional year with an unparallelled 20 percent spike in the number of cases.

This is explained almost entirely by a change in legislation that came into force at the beginning of 2011, says National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero. Now, a victim’s report is no longer required for launching a preliminary investigation into petty assault if the victim is a minor, somebody close to the perpetrator, or a person carrying out his or her professional duties.  

According to Paatero, police also boast a better solving rate for violent crimes, which has risen from last year’s 74 percent to 93 percent this year.