Finnish police departments have reopened 40 criminal investigations of intimate partner violence, after the deputy chancellor of justice informed them that the files had been unlawfully closed.
On his own initiative, Deputy Justice Chancellor Mikko Puumalainen examined 65 cases classified as domestic violence criminal investigations. He found that dozens of the cases had been closed because the victims did not press charges or demand that the perpetrators be legally penalised.
According to Puumalainen, 43 of the examined cases had been closed unlawfully.
Domestic violence is a crime subject to prosecution, regardless of whether the victim wishes the case to proceed. Because of this, according to the deputy justice chancellor, domestic violence investigations should not be closed on such grounds.
In a statement from the justice chancellor's office, Puumalainen said that unlawful closures of such cases were extensive and long-standing. In some instances, he found that chief investigators had made a number of unlawful decisions.
Puumalainen took the initiative to remind 29 lead police investigators about prosecutorial law guidelines, as well as the care that should be taken in closing criminal probes.
Additionally, the deputy justice chancellor issued warnings to two lead investigators because he considered their conduct had been particularly serious.
Finland has seen an increase in reports of domestic violence in recent years, with some 13,000 cases filed with police last year alone.