Finland’s children’s ombudsman calls for under-15 crime suspects to be placed in child welfare care, not police custody

Finland’s children’s ombudsman, Elina Pekkarinen, acknowledges police concerns over serious crimes committed by minors under 15 but stresses that child welfare—not police detention—should handle such cases, Yle reports.

Pekkarinen responded to a proposal by Helsinki Police Department to extend the detention period for under-15 suspects to secure investigations. While she understands the challenges, she argues that police facilities are not suitable for minors. “Detaining a child under 15 in police custody does not align with their best interests,” she said.

Under current law, children under 15 can be held for a maximum of 24 hours during preliminary investigations—and only for grave reasons. Police claim this hampers investigations, as released suspects may interfere with evidence or commit further offenses.

Pekkarinen instead advocates for closer cooperation with child welfare services, where suspects could be placed in secure, supportive environments. Such placements could protect minors from reoffending, retaliation, or obstructing investigations—especially when parents fail to recognize the severity of the situation.

She highlights ongoing reforms to Finland’s Child Welfare Act, which introduce stricter measures like closed institutional care for serious offenders. Pekkarinen warns against waiting for minors to turn 15—when criminal liability begins—to intervene effectively. “Finland has a strong history of addressing youth crime through welfare, not punishment,” she noted, urging ministries to collaborate on solutions.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child permits detention only as a last resort, emphasizing minimal intervention and respectful treatment. Finnish law currently prohibits pre-trial detention for under-15s, a safeguard Pekkarinen supports while acknowledging rare cases where welfare-based placement may be necessary for the child’s safety.