Police not to allow unlawful march on Independence Day

The police said they would intervene in any kind of procession which could be a risk to public order and security, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

The Helsinki police said as of Wednesday afternoon, they received notices of five Independence Day processions.

Chief Inspector Seppo Kujala, who is responsible for overseeing the Independence Day marches, told Yle that the number of processions would be lower this year compared to that in the previous year.

The nation will celebrate its 102nd anniversary of independence on Friday.

The police expect peaceful processions on the day, although there were unwanted incidents in the past.

“But, of course we will have to prepare for bumps in the road and then we will have to be on hand to maintain public order and security,” Kujala told Yle.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Helsinki police noted that it could intervene in demonstrations if they pose a threat to public order and security or if they disrupt traffic. The police said they could also break up processions deemed to be unlawful, the Yle report added.