Govt moves to boost security of religious premises

The Ministry of the Interior on Thursday set up a working group tasked with identifying security threats to the premises of religious communities and drawing up proposals for improving their safety and security, according to an official press release.

The working group will gather information on security threats, particularly against Jewish synagogues and Muslim prayer rooms and mosques and propose how to improve the safety and security of these communities through training, improving security measures, expertise in safety and security matters, and developing the organisation of security work.

A manual for improving safety and security will also be drawn up on the basis of the material.

The task of the working group is based on the Government Resolution on the National Action Plan for the Prevention of Violent Radicalisation and Extremism issued in December 2019.

In recent years, security threats to the premises of religious communities and members of communities using the premises have increased.

Serious attacks have been carried out on such premises in different countries, and more threats and vandalism are being directed at them in Finland, too. Finland’s objective is to prevent security threats by proactively improving security measures and expertise in safety and security matters.

The working group includes members from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish National Rescue Association, and key religious communities and organisations.

The term of the working group will continue until 31 May 2021.