Finnish police step up surveillance during graduation celebrations amid rise in bladed weapons

Finnish police will conduct heightened patrols nationwide this weekend to monitor alcohol and drug use among students celebrating their graduation, with a particular focus on the possession of bladed weapons, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Senior Superintendent Jyrki Kivirinta of the Oulu Police Department described the increasing number of knives and sharp objects found among young people as alarming. “We’ve confiscated everything from ordinary pocket knives to stilettos and fixed-blade knives,” he said. “Recently, we’ve also encountered 3D-printed plastic weapons designed to cause harm—just as dangerous as metal ones.”

A recent amendment to Finland’s Firearms Act, effective since the start of the year, now mandates that possession of a bladed weapon or any object capable of causing serious injury in a public place will automatically be referred for prosecution, rather than resulting in a fine. The maximum penalty for such offenses has been increased to one year in prison. Police now have expanded authority to detain suspects, conduct arrests, and execute searches in connection with these cases.

Authorities are urging parents and guardians to verify their children’s plans for the weekend. Kivirinta emphasized that officers will intervene if intoxicated youths require assistance, assessing their condition and age before determining the appropriate response. “If someone is severely impaired, it becomes a matter for emergency medical services,” he said. “We also coordinate with social workers.”

Police are stressing the importance of communication between officers and guardians. Kivirinta noted that parents should answer calls from unknown numbers, as it may be police attempting to contact them to collect their child. “That call could be from us—we need parents to take responsibility and pick up their kids,” he said.

Officers are also advising students to look out for one another. “If a friend is in no condition to stand or be supported, don’t hesitate to call police or emergency services on 112,” Kivirinta said. “Help will arrive.”