Image: AOP

2016 was a steady year for the Finnish police, with 806 433 reported crimes – only 0.2 percent more than in 2015.

Despite the overall crime rate staying stable, there was a significant rise in reported sex crimes. Out of a total of 3 370 sex-related crimes, rape cases increased by 11 percent and suspected sexual assaults doubled.

In 2016, police received around 1 170 reports on rape, up from 1 050 the previous year. Foreign nationals were suspected of rape in 34.5 percent of cases.

Meanwhile, sexual assault reports rose to 530 compared to 280 in 2015. Of these cases, 147 suspects were foreign nationals and 167 were Finnish citizens, up from 58 and 122 suspects respectively.

Consequently child sexual abuse cases increased by ten percent.

Police had identified the assailant in nearly 2 400 of sex-related crimes. In 29 percent of cases the suspected offender was a foreign national, compared to 18.5 percent in 2015.