Parliamentary Ombudsman worried about increased leaks of confidential information
Riitta-Leena Paunio
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Parliamentary Ombudsman Riitta-Leena Paunio is concerned about the amount of confidential information that has been leaking from the police, in to the media, and is calling for more thorough investigation of such leaks.
Paunio says that she has launched an investigation on leaks at her own initiative, and has asked a number of police units to give statements on the matter.
According to the report, leaks occur, but deliberate breaches of secrecy are rare.
Paunio points out that in most cases it is acceptable to report crime suspicions if there is an important significance for society, even if it causes harm for the suspect.
She also emphasises that reporting on investigations that are underway is not a problem as such. Her main objection is to the spreading of information that has been declared confidential.
Paunio points out that leaking of such information can cause suspects irreversible harm, and can jeopardise the success of a criminal investigation.
“Effort needs to be made to investigate leaks, even though the investigation of suspected crimes is challenging, because of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources”, she notes.
Paunio says that police should seek to prevent information leaks by increasing training, and the monitoring of the use of registers.
She is also asking the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior for a report on contacts between police and journalists during their time off in common “clubs”. Such contacts have been seen as problematic in some areas.
Earlier this week Helsingin Sanomat learned that the management of a waste the processing company A. Lokapojat in Vantaa is suspected of having committed serious environmental violations.
Police have arrested 11 employees of the company, suspected of having dumped oil waste and fat into rain drains, instead of bringing them to proper processing plants for handling.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 7.11.2008 - TODAY |
 Parliamentary Ombudsman worried about increased leaks of confidential information |
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