Sharp Increase in Sexual Offenses Reported in Southeast Finland
The Southeast Finland Police Department has recorded a significant rise in sexual offenses during the first half of this year, with 262 cases investigated—an increase of 48 percent compared to the same period last year. Ilta-Sanomat reports that this marks a jump of 85 cases, while Iltalehti highlights that the surge is driven by a sharp rise in offenses against children and online violations.
Child Sexual Abuse Cases Nearly Double
Cases of child sexual abuse have surged by 71.7 percent, with 79 offenses reported between January and June—33 more than in early 2025. Ilta-Sanomat notes that this reverses a previous decline, as child abuse cases had halved between 2024 and 2025. Police attribute the fluctuation to variations in detection rates, with some investigations uncovering multiple offenses. Iltalehti adds that the category of "other sexual offenses," which includes a high number of suspected online violations against children, saw the most dramatic increase, rising from 64 to 120 cases.
Sexual harassment cases also rose, from 30 to 43, while rape offenses saw a slight decrease, from 67 to 63.
Broader Crime Trends Mixed
Despite the rise in sexual and violent crimes, the overall number of criminal offenses in Southeast Finland decreased by 4.2 percent, or 550 cases, compared to last year. Ilta-Sanomat reports that assaults in public places increased by 19.3 percent, reaching 526 cases, while domestic violence offenses rose by 7.2 percent—accounting for 26 percent of all violent crimes. Police suggest the latter increase may reflect improved identification efforts.
The Southeast Finland Police have achieved a high clearance rate, solving 85 percent of violent crimes—significantly above the national average. Iltalehti reports that 60.6 percent of all offenses were solved, up from 51.8 percent last year.
Youth Crime on the Rise
Authorities estimate that crimes committed by individuals under 15 will reach 1,500 cases this year, a 50 percent increase from approximately 1,000 cases in 2025 (Ilta-Sanomat). The police anticipate that child sexual abuse cases may return to 2024 levels, despite the temporary decline last year.