Finland and Sweden expand cross-border police cooperation

Finnish and Swedish police can now cross the border to respond to urgent life-threatening emergencies, following an agreement that took effect on Wednesday, according to a report by Yle.

The new cooperation allows police patrols to enter the neighboring country to assist in serious crimes such as shootings, stabbings, aggravated robberies, and aggravated assaults, said Lapland Police Chief Vesa Pihajoki.

Under the agreement, either country’s police can request assistance from the other, after which a pre-approved patrol may be dispatched to provide support. Police have been trained for the new operations, though neither country discloses the number of officers involved for operational reasons.

A patrol may also cross the border on its own initiative if there is an immediate threat to life or health on the other side, Pihajoki said.

“The added value is improved safety and, hopefully, even shorter response times in the most serious incidents,” he added.

In Sweden, Östra Norrbotten Police Chief Mikael Rova emphasized the goal of making the Torne Valley safer on both sides of the border. “Now, for example, Swedish police can come to the Finnish side if a Finnish patrol would take longer to arrive,” Rova said.

The agreement applies to the Finnish municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio, and Ylitornio, and the Swedish municipalities of Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala, and Övertorneå.

Finland and Sweden have previously conducted joint operations under the Prüm Treaty to combat cross-border crime, including ongoing efforts against drug-related offenses. The expanded cooperation will also see Finnish police supporting the Motor Meet event in Haparanda and Swedish police assisting at the Twin City festival in Tornio.