Niemi, J. & Sahramäki, I. (2012): Poliisin tietoon tullut viharikollisuus Suomessa 2011 (Suspected hate crimes reported to the police in Finland in 2011, The Police College of Finland (Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu) 2012

Country

Finland

Title

Niemi, J. & Sahramäki, I. (2012): Poliisin tietoon tullut viharikollisuus Suomessa 2011 (Suspected hate crimes reported to the police in Finland in 2011, The Police College of Finland (Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu) 2012

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Year

2012

Type of publication

Report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Public authority

Institution

The Police College of Finland | Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu

Main Thematic Focus

Hate crime

Target Population

General population

Key findings

In 2011, the police filed 918 reports of suspected hate crime cases. The majority (86 %) of the cases were classified as racist incidents. The rest of the cases had following motives: religious or corresponding motive (6,6 %), sexual orientation ( 4,6 %), disability (2,6 %) and gender identity or gender expression (0.3%). In 2011, 788 reports of offences with racist motivation were found in the police information system. The most common suspected crimes were assaults. In the majority of hate crimes based on religion, the targeted religion was Christianity. The most common suspected crimes were verbal insults or threats.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

The statistics are based on crime reports retrieved from the national police information system using search words and codes, after which the reports of an offence are read and classified as hate crime (or not) according to the specific information found on the reports, for example if the victim or the police has suspected that there was a hate motive behind the crime.

Sample details and representativeness

918 reports of an offence were selected from the raw material and classified as hate crime.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.