Finland sees new record in hate crime reports for third consecutive year
The most typical case involves a native Finnish perpetrator, a racist motive and a public place, according to a report by the Police University College.
Finland has recorded a new record high for hate crime reports for the third consecutive year, according to the latest annual report by the Police University College. In 2023, there were 1,941 reported hate crimes, a seven percent increase from the previous record set in 2024. Since 2020, the number of suspected hate crime incidents has more than doubled.
The majority of these incidents, about 70 percent, were motivated by prejudice or hostility related to ethnic or national background. Researcher Jenita Rauta suggests several factors may contribute to the increase, including a potential rise in actual hate crimes, more active reporting, or improved identification of hate motives.
The next most common motives were related to religion or belief and sexual orientation, each accounting for just under a tenth of reported cases. Suspected hate crimes linked to ethnic or national background increased by nine percent last year, with the majority involving a male perpetrator and public places. The report highlights the impact of societal prejudices and divisions on crime, noting that international conflicts, societal polarization, and online hate speech all contribute to the atmosphere of tension in society.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
