Choosing new head of Security Police could take months

Commissioner Salminen expects no shortage of applicants

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After the announcement on Friday that Seppo Nevala, head of Finland's Security Police (SUPO) was retiring this year, efforts are in full swing to find a successor. An official advertisement seeking applications for the post will appear in Finnish newspapers on Sunday.
      "As we don't know who the applicants are, I canot predict the process", says National Police Commissioner Markku Salminen, one of the group that is to interview and evaluate the applicants.
      "If there are applicants that are strong in other respects, but are not known within the police administration, we may end up arranging tests. They can take weeks."
      The decision on the new head of the police will be made by the government. Nevala will leave his post and begin early retirement in December.
     
Salminen hopes that party politics will not play a role in the process.
      "I have not been told that anyone would have party-political plans or hopes. The law on civil servants requires that the best applicant must be chosen."
      A successful applicant will need to have management skills, and will also be expected to be familiar with the field, have good language skills, and know the law.
      Salminen does not feel that any changes will be needed in the SUPO organisation. He also believes that the current supervisory powers of the Supreme Police Command over SUPO activities is appropriate.
      He expects plenty of applicants, including some from within SUPO itself.
      Helsingin Sanomat has learned that the strongest likely applicant to replace Nevala is SUPO section chief Ilkka Salmi. The 38-year-old Salmi has said that he would thoroughly consider whether or not to apply for the task.
     
The three main tasks of the Finnish Security Police are counterespionage, preventing terrorism, and performing background checks.
      It is likely that the new SUPO chief will have to rethink at least the means with which Finland fights economic, industrial, and political espionage and intelligence-gathering. There are increasing signs of all of these, as the energy giant Russia seeks to enhance its global stature, and as China develops further into a major economic power. Both countries have interests in Finland.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Debate over disclosure of Stasi material heats up as Security Police director resigns (30.7.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat