“I believe it's very important that we take care of the resources of the Defence Forces and defence capabilities, but internal security is also becoming more and more important.”

Finns tend to associate security with the Defence Forces and the traditional security paradigm at the expense of internal security, estimates Päivi Räsänen (Christian Democrats), the Minister of the Interior.

Räsänen along with Anna-Maja Henriksson (SFP), the Minister of Justice, have assigned a parliamentary task force to draw up what will be the first internal security report to support policy development. Thus far, such reports have only been drawn up in the domains of security and defence policy.

“The same emphasis hasn't been placed on internal security in policy-making,” Räsänen states.

In particular, the operating environment of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) has changed in recent years, with the significance of international contacts growing and with espionage shifting to digital realms.

“The Security Intelligence Service only accounts for two per cent of other police operations in terms of its budget and staff, but its societal significance is far greater,” views Räsänen.

Räsänen reveals that she is of the opinion that Supo should be transferred from under the control of the Finnish Police to that of the Ministry of the Interior. “Supo would nonetheless remain a police unit. There are no plans to establish a civilian intelligence organisation,” she adds.

Juha Roppola – HS

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

© HELSINGIN SANOMAT

Photo: Rio Gandara / HS