Non-Discrimination Ombudsman's recommendations to the Helsinki Police Department regarding discriminatory Kuri1 operation against the Roma

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman has issued recommendations to the Helsinki Police Department for follow-up measures regarding the Kuri1 operation that was discriminatory to the Roma. Among other things, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman recommends that the National Police Board develop its operations to ensure that the prohibition of ethnic profiling has been fully understood at all police departments. The recommendations are based on a round table discussion organised by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman.

On 23 November 2023, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman organised a round table discussion about the Helsinki Police Department's Kuri1 crime prevention and information gathering operation targeting Roma in 2013–2015, and the questions raised by the National Police Board's decision made in 2023. In addition to the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, the round table was attended by representatives of, for example, the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, the Helsinki Police Department, the National Police Board's legality control unit and Roma organisations.

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman recommends that the National Police Board develop its operations to ensure that the prohibition of ethnic profiling has been fully understood at all police departments. In addition, the National Police Board is urged to design and implement information gathering measures to determine whether ethnic profiling is being used in police operations.
To foster dialogue and trust, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman recommends that police departments hold regular discussions with the Roma on the targeting of police operations at them. The Roma population's distrust of police activities can be dispelled through open and honest exchanges of information.

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman recommends that the police invest in more extensive anti-racism work at all levels in addition to ensuring compliance with the prohibition of ethnic profiling through targeted measures. For example, the development of equality promotion planning is an effective way of addressing structural equality issues.

"The Kuri1 operation was a manifestation of deep-rooted structural racism against the Roma, and recognising and acknowledging this is a necessary condition for the equality of police work and improvement of trust in the police. The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman recommends that the conclusions on the discriminatory nature and discriminatory procedures of the Kuri1 operation be discussed at all levels in all police departments. It is extremely important that the police leadership commit to this and lead by example”, says Non-Discrimination Ombudsman Kristina Stenman.

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman will hold a new round table discussion in the spring of 2025. The topics of the discussion will include the implementation of the follow-up measures recommended by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman and the results of the efforts to improve trust between the police and the Roma population.

All of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman's recommendations are available here (PDF). 

14.05.2024