In Sweden, the violence has gotten so bad that bystanders were shot in the middle of the day at a Stockholm metro station. Is such a situation possible in Finland?
Inspector Hannu Väänänen The police in Western Uusimaa say that the omens suggest that a shooting incident similar to the one in Sweden is also possible in Finland. A 15-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man died in the shooting that took place in front of the Farsta metro station over the weekend. According to the Swedish police, there are already shootings by gangs all over the country.
Väänänen deals with street violence in the capital region and especially in Espoo.
– The basic starting points and structures in society in Finland and Sweden are different, but the phenomena have reached Finland as well. The phenomenon is that firearms are used in public places. Unfortunately, young people in Finland are taking their cues from, for example, Sweden’s operating models, and we can see signs of them here. The operating methods have been brought to us, says Väänänen.
In Veräjämäki, Helsinki, the father of a family was assaulted by young people from outside in his own yard this week.
– At the moment, such an unfortunate phenomenon can be seen among young people, that violence takes place. It can be seen in our work to an increasing extent, Väänänen states.
Commissioner Hannu Väänänen works as the head of preventive activities and youth crime investigation in the Länsi-Uusimaa police. According to Väänänen’s experience, the presence of an adult in a child’s life is the best preventive action.
– The fact that you give the child time and fill that time with sensible and good things. If it is not there, then unfortunately it will be filled with something else. For some children, it is then filled with crimes, drugs, violence, Väänänen reminds.
Money cannot buy the time a parent gives to a child, Väänänen states. Only by listening to the child can you find out if the child is in trouble or if there is something vague to do in the circle of friends. By openly telling an adult about the day’s events, you can observe what is happening in the child’s life.
If an adult notices that things are not right with a young person, they should seek help, Väänänen reminds.
– The authorities will ultimately help, but we have many other helping parties in society.
The number of robberies and suspected assaults committed by people under the age of 21 has increased since 2019.
– Yes, the situation is worrisome, when the use of violence to solve problems in social life seems to be too common among young people, and that violence is evil. The consequences are clearly not understood, says Väänänen.
Commissioner Hannu Väänänen’s interview can be watched in its entirety on Areena: