Finland to establish police reserve for exceptional situations

Finland is establishing a police reserve to ensure the police have sufficient resources in exceptional situations, the Ministry of the Interior announced Thursday.

The legislative changes are set to take effect mainly from the start of 2027.

The reserve could be deployed during serious disruptions in normal conditions, states of emergency, and defence situations if necessary to safeguard police resources. The reserve would be part of the police organization. Decisions on its activation and termination would be made by the Finnish government in plenary session.

The voluntary reserve would consist of 400–500 people, including police students and individuals who have completed police training but are not currently serving as police officers — either working in other roles or retired.

Reserve police officers would serve in a temporary police appointment with official duties and responsibilities. Their tasks would be police duties, and they would be authorized to exercise police powers. Police students, however, would operate under the supervision and real-time command of regular police officers.