Finnish police expand real-time surveillance cameras in Tampere and aim for dozens of municipalities this year

Finnish police are increasing real-time camera surveillance in Tampere and plan to expand the system to dozens of municipalities nationwide by the end of the year, reports national broadcaster Yle.

The new digital city camera network, owned by municipalities but monitored by police, will provide live footage to enhance crime prevention and investigation. Tampere has already approved an agreement with police for technical surveillance, part of a national initiative led by the Police Board.

Police Inspector Konsta Arvelin confirmed that contracts for similar systems have been signed with several major cities, with “more than ten” additional municipalities expected to join this year, spanning southern and northern Finland. Each municipality will deploy dozens of cameras, though specific locations remain undisclosed.

Tampere currently operates over 200 traffic and surveillance cameras, with the city allocating €115,000 this year for system upgrades. New cameras will be added annually, particularly near the under-construction tram line and downtown parking areas, according to system manager Mika Heikkilä.

Police use the cameras for public order maintenance, crime prevention, and suspect identification. Live monitoring enables real-time response coordination, such as guiding patrols during incidents. Recordings also serve as court evidence, as seen in a recent violent crime case on Tampere’s central square.

Commissioner Marko Luosa of Central Finland Police emphasized the system’s role in directing emergency responses, while Arvelin dismissed concerns about mass surveillance, noting legal limits and mandatory public signage for monitored areas. “Surveillance is always bound by law—police cannot engage in indiscriminate monitoring,” he stated.

Critics occasionally raise concerns about privacy, but Arvelin countered that camera evidence is far more reliable than eyewitness accounts in criminal investigations.