Opinion|Reader’s opinion
The order of priority of criminal investigations should be laid down by law.
Helsingin sanomat newspaper has in recent weeks reported on the problems of the criminal investigation. There appear to be serious problems in the investigation of trafficking offenses. Investigations into sexual and violent crimes take years.
There are also problems with other degrees. On behalf of my client, I filed a criminal complaint with the Eastern Finnish police in a serious matter in September 2018, but the investigation has still not been started.
Helsingin Sanomat reported (January 20) that the prosecutor has filed charges against persons involved in Elokapina’s operations. The acts suspected of crimes have taken place last autumn. For some reason, these investigations have progressed so that the police have investigated the cases and the prosecutor has already decided on the charges.
Anyone who decides on the allocation of scarce investigative resources by the police exercises great social power. The Preliminary Investigation Act is written with the idea that all crimes that come to the attention of the police will be investigated.
The only provision on the order of investigation stipulates that crimes suspected of being committed by a person under the age of 18 must be investigated as a matter of urgency. There is no corresponding criterion of urgency when the child is a victim.
As the accumulation of suspected criminal offenses becomes worse and worse – and the prosecution becomes obsolete for some cases – separate provisions should be made as a matter of urgency. This would bring the discretion of the order of inquiry within the scope of the review of legality when there is a standard that can be enforced.
Markku Fredman
lawyer, docent of procedural law
Helsinki
Reader opinions are speeches written by HS readers, selected and delivered by HS’s editorial staff. You can leave a comment or read the principles of writing at www.hs.fi/kirjtamielipidekirjoitus/.
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