Finland Times

 

Theft took place at the National Opera building in March. Photo Lehtikuva.

The number of offenses has increased by 3.9% during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, shows data from Statistics Finland.

 

The report, released on Wednesday, said 27 murders, 246 rapes and 373 robberies took place from January-March. 

 

Crimes such as assaults and sexual exploitations of child however fell slightly. 

 

According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, a total of 93,900 offences were recorded by police, customs and border guard. The number 3,500 or 3.9% higher than the corresponding period a year back. 

 

Offences and endangerment of traffic safety in 2009 to 2014. Source: Statistics Finland.

The number of property offences stood at 54,000, which was 6,000 or 12.4% higher than in 2013. The recorded number of crimes against life and health was 8,100, which is 670 or 7.7% lower than the respective period of the previous year.

 

In addition, 95,000 cases of endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions were registered.

 

The number of frauds (fraud, petty fraud, aggravated fraud) has grown considerably over the 2000s. In January to March 2014, 6,600 frauds were recorded, which is 14% higher than in the year before. In the 2000s, the average number of frauds has been 4,000 in January to March.

 

In January to March 2014, a total of 290 aggravated frauds were recorded, which is 10% less than one year earlier.

 

File picture of accused facing trial of an abduction took place in Porvoo. Photo Lehtikuva.

The number of robberies reported was 370, which was 18% more than 2013, but as much as the average for the previous ten years.

 

The number of assault offences recorded was 7,700, which was 8% less than the corresponding period last year. From 2002-2013, an average of 7,500 assault offences were recorded in January to March. Compared with January to March 2013, aggravated assaults went down by nearly 7%. A total of 400 of them were recorded.

 

In January to March 2014, the number of rapes was 250, against 210 a year ago. Over the past 10 years, the average number of rapes has been 175 in January to March.

 

Police recovered jewellery items after an incident of theft. Photo Lehtikuva.

The recorded number of sexual exploitations of child was 360, which is 2% less than the year before. Detected sexual exploitations of a child have increased considerably in recent years. The recorded numbers of rapes and sexual exploitations of a child tend to vary yearly. 

 

The number of drunken driving was 3,800 in January to March 2014. This figure has remained unchanged from the corresponding period of the year before. One-half of the recorded drunken driving cases were aggravated drunken driving.

 

Aggravated drunken driving rose by 11% and other cases of driving drunken increased by 12%. Over the last ten years, 4,800 cases of driving drunken were recorded between January and March, on an average.

 

 

 

Number of certain types of offences in January, February and March and in January to March 2014 and change from the corresponding period of the previous year

Offence	January		February		March		January-March
	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change
All offences 1)	31,125	445	28,942	-741	33,839	3,841	93,906	3,545
Burglary	2,305	230	2,389	358	2,631	594	7,325	1,182
Unauthorised uses and thefts of a motor vehicle, thefts of use of a motor vehicle	444	33	399	53	513	157	1,356	243
Robbery	132	27	99	9	142	22	373	58
Damage to property	3,834	944	2,468	-590	4,050	1,216	10,352	1,570
Manslaughter, murder and killing	9	-1	8		10	4	27	3
Assault	2,645	-190	2,441	-264	2,565	-218	7,651	-672
Rape	94	37	60	-20	92	21	246	38
Drunken driving	1,173	-29	1,156	-73	1,493	109	3,822	7
Narcotics offences	1,549	-459	1,638	-294	1,749	-136	4,936	-889

1) Excl. endangerment of traffic safety, hit-and-run, traffic infraction, violation of social welfare legislation on road traffic, and motor vehicle infraction.

 

Number of endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions in January, February and March and in January to March 2014 and change from the corresponding period of the previous year

Offence	January		February		March		January-March
	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change	2014	Change
Endangerment of traffic safety, hit-and-run, traffic infraction, violation of social welfare legislation on road traffic and motor vehicle infraction	33,009	-21,743	30,143	-2,654	31,827	-1,820	94,979	-26,217
-exceeding speed limits 1)	23,289	-19,796	20,639	-1,217	19,988	-1,038	63,916	-22,051

1) Cases of exceeding speed limits registered as endangerment of traffic safety, aggravated endangerment of traffic safety and traffic infractions.