Published: 26/07/25 | 11:46
The number of homicides is on the rise again with new police data confirming that the rising trend continues into this year.
Between January and May law enforcement received 247 reports involving homicides, attempted murders or crimes related to their planning. This marks an increase of about 25% compared to the same period last year when the figure was just under 200.
The number of actual killings rose from 37 to 48.
“There’s been a small rise in the involvement of young individuals in homicide cases. This partly explains the overall increase. There’s been a lot of discussion around youth violence and gang-related crime lately. Some of this activity connects at least to some extent to organized crime, drug trafficking and similar factors,” explained Police Inspector Pekka Heikkinen from the National Police Board.
After a long period of decline Finland recorded its lowest homicide figures in 2023. That downward trend reversed in 2024 and the recent data suggest it’s not improving. Heikkinen noted that the police are growing increasingly worried about how some young people are slipping further into serious trouble.
“Homicides can’t be prevented by policing alone. Tackling them requires a broad society-wide effort. They are ultimately a reflection of deeper social issues,” Heikkinen said. “In 2023 for example more than 700 people died by suicide with around 15% being under 25. Drug-related deaths numbered over 300 and nearly a third of those were also under 25. These tragedies point to wider issues that can drive people to desperate or violent acts.”
However, Heikkinen stressed that most homicides in Finland still occur among older individuals, often marginalized men struggling with substance abuse. Intimate partner violence also accounts for a significant share of the cases.
“We’ve always been worried about the youth. History reminds us of groups like the Sakis, the flat-cap wearers and the knife-carrying ruffians from Ostrobothnia. Disengaged young men that are disconnected from society have long been sources of trouble primarily for themselves,” Heikkinen reflected. He’s been with the police since the early 1980s offering decades of experience on the issue.
“As a society we’ve gone through economic downturns and upswings. In hard times the most vulnerable tend to suffer the most. When more people are pushed to the margins extreme behaviors become more common.”
Heikkinen believes that education is the most powerful tool to curb crime.
“We need to support children and young people with education, meaningful studies, healthy extracurricular activities and similar positive influences. That’s how we can create lasting improvements.”
