Number of violent crimes increased in the Helsinki region in 2022
In 2022, 17 per cent more violent crime came to the attention of the police in the Helsinki region than in the previous year. Based on preliminary data by Statistics Finland, the number of offences increased by 15 per cent year-on-year in Uusimaa, while the increase in the whole country was 10 per cent. One third of all violent and sex crimes in the country were committed in the Helsinki region.
In October–December, approximately 3,968 crimes against life and health or sexual crimes were reported to the police in the Helsinki region, half of which were committed in Helsinki. Compared with the corresponding period last year, the number of violent crimes that were reported to the police in October–December grew by 12 per cent in the Helsinki region, by 8 per cent in Uusimaa and by 3 per cent in the entire country.
The number of violent crimes reported to the police increased significantly in 2011, when even minor assaults became subject to public prosecution following a change in the legislation. Since then, the general trend had been decreasing until 2015, when the number of crimes started to slowly increase in the Helsinki region. The growth stalled in 2016. From 2018 onwards, however, the trend has been growing again, with the exception of a slight decline in 2020.