Proposal to enhance exchange of information between authorities circulated for comments
The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal aiming to streamline the exchange of information between the police and other authorities. This proposal implements the objective outlined in the Government Programme to step up the combating of crime and remove obstacles to the related exchange of information. The deadline for submitting comments is August 17, 2025.
Amendments are proposed to the Police Act, the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police and the corresponding acts concerning the Finnish Border Guard and Finnish Customs. These changes would enable better exchange of information between authorities for the prevention, detection and investigation of offences.
The amendments would support cooperation between authorities and administrative crime prevention work, which is one of the most important means of combating organised crime. The proposal aims to ensure an efficient and effective information exchange between the police and other authorities as well as adequate exchange between the police and private parties.
In addition, the Act on the Processing of Personal Data in Immigration Administration would be amended. The Finnish Immigration Service would be granted the right to obtain information on certain warrants of apprehension and to disclose information on the presence of wanted persons at a particular location to the police on its own initiative.
The rights of the police to disclose information to be clarified
According to the proposal, the police would be authorised to disclose information, notwithstanding non-disclosure provisions, when necessary for the performance of tasks assigned to the police, another authority or a person or body performing a public duty, or for reasons of public or private interest.
The ability of the police to disclose information on their own initiative would improve compared to the current legislation. In addition to authorities and entities performing a public duty, information could also be disclosed to private parties under conditions laid down by law. A serious reason for disclosure could include a situation where it would help prevent a serious crime or aid in the search for a vulnerable child or young person, including related multidisciplinary cooperation.
A new provision would be added to the Police Act to allow the disclosure of information to critical infrastructure entities. Exchange of information between authorities and critical entities would help support the protection of critical sites.
Specifications to provisions on the authorities' access to information
Legislation would be clarified regarding the right to obtain information from private entities or individuals. Access to information would also be permitted to avert an imminent danger to life or health, or to locate a wanted person who is ordered to be arrested, remanded or apprehended.
The proposal would also clarify provisions on obtaining information from healthcare and social welfare services. Under clearly defined conditions and upon request, the police could obtain information on the presence at a particular location of individuals and their identity from healthcare and social welfare services. This could apply, for example, to the detection and investigation of certain offences, the protection of national security or the search for a missing person. The proposal would not enable the police to obtain information from healthcare and social welfare service providers beyond individual instances of a person's presence at a particular location.
The proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible.
Inquiries:
Helinä Tiura-Virta, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 238, firstname.lastname@gov.fi