Corruption Crime Reported to the Police in Finland 2007-2023

• In Event: EUROC 5 Corruption and the Police

Abstract

Corruption is a complex criminal phenomenon that has serious consequences for society. This paper examines bribery and other forms of corruption reported to the police in Finland.

To identify instances of corruption, criminal records were searched using relevant crime titles and key words. The current data covers three periods spanning from 2007 to 2018, but it will be complemented until 2023 during the summer of 2024.

Between 2007 and 2018, bribery cases accounted for only 11-12% of all the 400-500 corruption cases reported during each period. These cases typically comprise the misuse of funds or confidential information. The parties involved are usually two private companies or a private individual along with a public sector organization. The suspects are often men, middle-aged, white-collar workers, and Finnish citizens.

The corruption cases, especially those not involving bribery, are often complex and difficult to identify. It might also be challenging for the police to gather evidence for the prosecution and the court process. Less than 60 % of suspected bribery and other corruption offenses are referred for consideration of charges.

The results of this study are valuable for analyzing the content and development of corruption. These outcomes benefit the public debate, the scientific community, the police, and other organizations engaged in combatting corruption.

The data does not cover all cases of corruption reported to the police (e.g., secret cases). Furthermore, it does not provide a comprehensive description of all forms of structural corruption present in society.

Keywords: corruption, bribery, police, registry data

Authors

• Vesa Muttilainen, Police University College, Finland

• Carita Lundqvist, Police University College, RDI, Tampere, Finland