Streamlining programme results in decline in police employment

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As a consequence of the effects of a streamlining programme initiated by the previous coalition government, the employment rate of the Finnish police is now at its weakest-ever level.
      A total of 69 students will take the Diploma in Police Studies at the Police College of Finland in Tampere at the end of February, while only six of them will have jobs available.
      Even these jobs are based on fixed-term work contracts.
     
According to the calculations made by the Police College, the number of police officers trained this year is 122 in excess of the number needed to fill the positions which become vacant.
      Another factor is the shortage of money, which leaves only the alternative of not filling all vacancies.
      It is likely that the employment situation will not be eased until the baby boomers take retirement in a couple of years. However, the new officers are concerned about the future, as they fear that the potential jobless period will alienate them from practical police work.
      The City of Helsinki intends to transfer criminal investigators from the precincts to patrol the streets and to maintain public order.
     
Reportedly, a total of 781 police officers graduated over the period from January 2006 to January 2008. Last month 190 of these officers were unemployed, while another 53 were employed by some other instances than the police, mostly by emergency response centres. In addition, some officers are working in the private sector, for example as construction and industrial workers.
      Looking for jobs elsewhere is also risky, as the police vacancies are usually filled only by officers registered as unemployed.
      Next year, the estimated number of excess police graduates will be 16. However, in the following year the trend will turn, and in 2010 the number of graduates will be lower than the number needed to fill the vacancies.
      This means that in a couple of years even the police officers on the dole will be needed.
     
The new police graduates are also concerned about the safety and legal protection of citizens.
      Over the period from 2006 to 2007, the number of all crimes grew by almost 7% in Finland. Moreover, the number of Finnish police officers in proportion to the population is already now lower than that in the other Nordic countries.
      The national goal of becoming the safest country in Europe by 2014 is likely to be considerably watered down, the police students argue.
      Moreover, the concomitant reform of jurisdictional districts will leave those citizens resident in remote districts even more unequal than before.
     
According to Seppo Kolehmainen, the Principal of the Police College of Finland, the number of police students cannot be radically reduced, as according to estimates, the situation is expected to improve from 2010 onwards.
      The 2.5-year training of a police officer costs the state approximately EUR 80,000.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Police facing loss of 600 posts in years ahead (18.1.2008)

Links:
  Police College of Finland

Helsingin Sanomat