Finland and Sweden launch cross-border police cooperation in July
Finland and Sweden will introduce a new form of police cooperation at the beginning of July, allowing officers from both countries to independently cross the national border and respond to emergencies in designated municipalities. The initiative marks the first time the two nations have granted each other’s police forces the authority to conduct emergency operations on their respective territories.
The cooperation is based on a 2021 intergovernmental agreement, which was enacted into law in both countries in 2025. According to the police, the arrangement enables authorities to request assistance from their counterparts in handling urgent situations involving threats to life, health, or physical integrity in border municipalities (MTV Uutiset).
On Finland’s side, the agreement applies to the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio, and Ylitornio. Swedish police will have jurisdiction in corresponding border areas. Under the new rules, police patrols from both countries may cross the border on their own initiative—even without a prior request—and take temporary measures to avert immediate danger (Ilta-Sanomat).
"This new form of cooperation further enhances active police cooperation between the countries," said Police Commissioner Sanna Heikinheimo of the Police Board (MTV Uutiset).
Training and operational structure
Police officers assigned to the cross-border operations have undergone training in recent months, including joint exercises between Finnish and Swedish authorities. The training was conducted in collaboration between the Police Board, the Police University College, the Lapland Police Department, the Oulu Police Department, and Sweden’s Norrbotten Police Region (MTV Uutiset).
For Finland, the Lapland Police Department will handle patrol activities, while the Northern Command Center of the Police, based in Oulu, will manage decision-making related to assistance requests (MTV Uutiset). Only volunteer officers who have consented to the task will participate in the operations (Ilta-Sanomat).
The agreement represents a significant step in Nordic police collaboration, with both countries preparing to implement the new measures from July 1.
