Domestic disturbance, drunk driving on rise

The total number of offences against the Penal Code has decreased, but domestic disturbance calls, drunk driving and speeding cases are on the rise, according to police statistics.

“The number of domestic disturbance calls has risen especially with regard to loud noises and disruptive behaviour, but also with regard to domestic violence cases. The matter has likely been affected by the closing of the restaurants as well as by people’s concern and anxiety, in addition to frustration towards the necessary corona virus restrictions,” said National Police Board Deputy National Police Commissioner Sanna Heikinheimo.

Apart from domestic disturbance calls, the disadvantages of drunk drinking are especially visible from disturbance calls on weekend nights.

“If the situation is prolonged, the threat is that the atmosphere in families as well as between neighbours will continue to become more tensed and people’s frustration will increase,” Heikinheimo said.

According to her, the risk lies in the outburst of bad feelings as individual overreactions, which for example is visible in the increased number of disruptive behaviour.

The number of violent offences against children reported to the police continues to fall, compared to that in the corresponding period of last year. But in reality, the situation is most likely not as optimistic. There is great concern for children and young people with regard to what is going on underneath the surface. For example, as schools and places for hobbies are closed, offences are not reported to the authorities, unless it happens indirectly. The increase in unreported crime cases is obvious.

According to the release, as far as the police are aware, a reason for why a part of crime reporting is not done at the moment is that people believe the crime process to be prolonged too much.

The number of cases causing a serious traffic hazard has increased in the past weeks and their total number is higher year on year. The number of intoxicated drivers in traffic has increased, as well.

For the first time in history, the number of drivers driving under the influence of drugs has exceeded the number of drunk drivers.