Finnish police seek power to detain under-15s longer as youth crimes grow more violent

Finnish police have called for legal changes to allow longer detention of children under 15, citing a surge in violent youth crime, Yle reports.

Current law prohibits restrictive measures such as detention for minors under 15, except in extreme cases where they may be required to remain present for questioning for up to 24 hours. Police now argue that this limit is insufficient for serious offences.

Detective Commissioner Marja Väätti of Helsinki Police told Yle that investigations into recent youth crimes—including robberies and assaults—have exposed systemic gaps. “We’ve seen cases where children slip through every intervention,” she said. “Police may file multiple child welfare reports, but the cycle of crime continues.”

The call follows high-profile incidents, including a group of around ten girls in Helsinki’s Vuosaari district linked to nearly 30 criminal reports for harassment and violence. While all underage crime reports undergo preliminary assessment, police lack tools to intervene effectively for those under 15.

Helsinki Police handle all under-15 cases through a multidisciplinary “Anchor Group” aimed at early intervention. Yet Väätti stressed that current measures are inadequate for repeat offenders: “Our ability to act is severely limited.”

Authorities are currently briefing media on the youth crime situation, with updates expected.