Police report an increase in the degree of violence in street crime in the centre of Helsinki, although the actual number of crimes committed has remained fairly stable.

   

According to Juha Hakola of the Helsinki police, there has been a slight increase in violent acts committed by young people.

   

"There is a surprising amount of violence in which people of the same age group are targeted. They just attack some passer-by", Hakola says.

   

He adds that the victims of beatings in the centre of Helsinki often know at least one of the perpetrators.

   

Kari Tolvanen, head of the violent crimes unit of the Helsinki Police, says that acts of violence committed by young people usually target kids of the same age, whereas if a young person attacks someone who is older, the motive is usually robbery.

"More girls are involved

in assaults than before. Muggings usually take place in the centre of Helsinki in the early evening, and they are usually committed by groups of young people", says Tuomo Lotta, head of investigations at the police precinct of central Helsinki.

   

Tolvanen notes that cases of aggravated assault are quite common during large public festivals.

   

For instance, during this year's First of May festivities there were six stabbings, five of which were committed by teenagers.

   

"What was noticeable in the cases was savagery and a lack of any actual motive", Tolvanen says.

Still a few years ago

street violence in the centre of Helsinki mainly involved clashes between members of rival gangs. Now the groups are not as tightly organised as before, and will often pick out a passer-by at random for harassment. The groups comprise various nationalities in addition to Finns.

   

Muggings in the centre of Helsinki are mostly committed by 15 - 22-year-olds, while those involved in assaults are more evenly divided between the ages of about 20 and 40.

   

Muggings have decreased somewhat in the past two years.

   

According to Juha Hakola, the situations do not always involve deliberate serious violence. They are often sparked by minor vandalism which escalates as the various members of a group try to impress each other.

   

Tuomo Lotta emphasises that the risk of being the victim of an assault in the centre of Helsinki is quite small, and he feels that it would be unfair to label the majority of well-behaved young people on the basis of the actions of a small minority.