Police to monitor end of summer-term of schools weekend

Even at the end of an exceptional school year, summer arrives and schools close for the summer as usual. On the weekend following the end of term, on 29 May – 1 June 2020, the police will be carrying out heightened monitoring of young people’s use of intoxicants, as has become traditional.

While carrying out this monitoring, the police will also be intervening in any disturbances in public places, said the National Police Board in a press release.

The police encourage everyone to meet the weekend with restraint.

“We sincerely hope that everyone will continue to observe the restrictions on gatherings established by the Regional State Administrative Agencies. The pandemic is not over yet, even if the situation has calmed somewhat. There are still reasons to be careful and to follow the recommendations and instructions of the authorities,” said National Police Board Chief Superintendent Ari Järvenpää.

The police will be monitoring young people’s use of intoxicants as well as public order and safety as usual. If gatherings pose a danger to public order and safety, the police may intervene.

“The primary policy of the police is to maintain public order and safety and protect people’s basic rights by providing instructions and recommendations,” pointed out Järvenpää.

The police recommend that parents talk with their children about the risks of celebrating the end of term well in advance.

The police are conducting an intensive monitoring of the consumption of intoxicants by young people and the surveillance will particularly focus on places where young people gather, such as beaches as well as kindergarten and school yards.

“The visible surveillance by the police prevents accidents and young people from becoming victims of crimes. On the end-of-summer-term evening, the police are operating in cooperation with the Helsinki City youth work and other voluntary youth work operators,” said Helsinki Police Department Chief Inspector Katja Nissinen.

A young person’s possession of alcohol leads to a fine, and the matter is reported to the young person’s guardians as well as to the child welfare services. Alcohol in possession of a minor is confiscated by the police and disposed of. In case the police find alcohol in possession of children younger than 15 years or if the children are intoxicated, they are handed over to the guardians or social service authorities.