Crimes endangering health, safety rise

The offences endangering health and safety increased in 2021 compared to the previous years, said the National Police Board on Friday, quoting a review by the Finnish Police, Customs, Border Guard and National Prosecution Agency in 2017 to 2021.

The number of environmental offences and those related to the natural resources, however, was dropped in 2021, compared to the preceding years.

Environmental Offences numbered 2021 in 447 while the corresponding number of 546 the year before.

Offences endangering health and safety were 539 in 2021, compared to 518 in 2020. Such offences include, for example, those related to explosives and carelessness in handling of explosives.

The review of environmental offences is published on a yearly basis. The review highlights topical issues related to the prevention of environmental offences.

“The 2022 review will present information on environmental crime in general and, for example, in light of the Finnish statistics, also discussing the national and international environmental crime threats, legislative amendments, the most recent case law as well as information on the roles and competences of various authorities in environmental crime prevention,” said Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board Tuomas Pöyhönen.