Police rarely record interrogations in Finland despite calls for reform

Finnish police do not routinely record interrogations, relying instead on written transcripts—a practice that has drawn criticism from legal experts, Yle reports.

While interrogations involving children must be recorded by law, most adult questioning is documented through officer-written protocols. Police argue that broader recording requirements are unnecessary and costly, but specialists warn the current system risks undermining legal protections.

Pertti Sovelius, a police inspector with the National Police Board, told Yle that recording is used selectively in complex cases, determined jointly by investigators and prosecutors. He acknowledged that storage costs and data management pose challenges but noted that centralized training and equipment help standardize practices.

Julia Korkman, a legal psychologist at the European Institute for Crime Prevention (HEUNI), called the lack of systematic recording a “serious risk to due process.” She argued that recordings would protect both suspects and officers from unfounded allegations of coercion, adding that many officers support the practice.

Korkman proposed mandatory recording for cases like domestic violence, sexual offenses, and other crimes where testimony is central. “Every question should be verifiable,” she said, emphasizing that modern transcription software has reduced the resource burden.

Pekka Ylikoski, chair of the Finnish Bar Association’s criminal procedure group, highlighted discrepancies between client accounts and police records, particularly when suspects lack legal representation or interpreters. “The client’s story to us and the police notes don’t always match,” he said, stressing that recordings could clarify such cases—though they cannot replace the role of a defense advisor.

Police maintain that an advisor’s presence is critical beyond mere documentation, especially for non-native speakers. Sovelius urged broader recognition of advisors’ importance in ensuring fair questioning.