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Thu, 14 Jan, 2016 12:10:23 AM Rinne holds govt responsible for contradictory opinions FTimes – STT Report, Jan 14  Prime Minister Juha Sipilä. File Photo Lehtikuva. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Wednesday said the government has a unified outlook on street patrols that rules out its necessity.
“The police are the ones charged with the duty of maintaining law and order, and not the civilian groups conducting street patrols,” Sipilä told the Finnish news agency STT.
Sipilä earlier triggered incredulity and confusion on Tuesday with a statement in which he drew parallels between street patrols and escorting children to their activities.
According to the premier, the government parties are not divided on the issue. Sipilä said the security situation and the feelings towards security have changed, prompting the government to react by increasing budgetary allocations for the police.
“In practice, all the police officers in the country are employed; there are none unemployed.”
Finance Minister Alexander Stubb. File Photo Lehtikuva. Additional resources for the police this year are not on the table; however, in the long-term the situation will be reviewed in the internal security report.
“Definitely, at all times we are discussing if the feeling of citizens’ security has deteriorated. It is the responsibility of the government,” said Sipilä.
Speaking on the issue, Finance Minister Alexander Stubb said the manifestation of racist street patrols may compel the enactment of new legislation.
Stubb told the news agency STT that the interior ministry will review the legal status of the launched street patrol organisations.
Organisations which are racist or anti-democratic may be among them, maintained Stubb.
“It goes without saying that the streets have to be passable and the freedom of assembly exists. However, the physical integrity is sacred and racist activities are not accepted,” Stubb added.
According to Stubb, it is too early to say what kind of new legislation could be deliberated.
SDP chairman Antti Rinne. File Photo Lehtikuva. “We are not ruling out new legislation, however, we will review the situation as a whole,” said the former prime minister.
The opposition has also taken up the topic of street patrols. According to Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland SDP) chairman Antti Rinne, the government has failed in its agenda.
According to him, Finland does not need Odin’s Warriors-sponsored street patrols.
The government has clearly shown different opinions [about street patrols], such as Interior Minister Petteri Orpo, Justice Minister Jari Lindström and the prime minster, said Rinne.
According to Rinne, from outside the government, the difficulty of aligning all three parties in the coalition is clear.
According to him, an explanation for the differences in agenda, the confusion and fumbling can be found, for example, in statements made by the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) in recent years.
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