The Treasury minister Annika Saarikko (Cen) proposes an increase of 30 million euros for the Finnish police in next year’s budget, when the fourth supplementary draft will be presented on Monday, according to a report by the news agency STT.
Earlier this week, the Police Board announced plans to enter into co-operation negotiations with staff representatives with the aim of cutting up to 250 jobs, citing the government’s decision to cut the troops ’budget in 2022.
Saarikko told STT that the decision to increase the police budget would ensure the continuation of operations as normal and would also strengthen the so-called
"Until now, the police have used temporary appropriations, such as an unused buffer, but now the buffer will be strengthened this year in order to secure the police’s financial base for next year," The archipelago said.
The Minister noted that as a result of the increased funding, the police may now decide to end the plans for co-operation negotiations and added that he met with the Chief of Police. Seppo Kolehmainen on Friday to discuss the matter.
Additional funding could prevent a reduction in police staff, Saarikko said, and would also help work to increase the number of officers to the government’s target of 7,500.
Audit of police budgets and expenditure
In addition, Saarikko announced that the Ministry of the Interior will appoint an independent auditor next week to examine the police budget and expenditure.
"At the same time, together with the Ministry of the Interior and the police, we will launch an audit on the use of police budget appropriations in recent years and future expenditure needs," The archipelago added.
Referring to government sources, Helsingin Sanomat reported earlier this week that there are question marks about where all police money is being spent, and expensive IT projects are mentioned as one cash out.
Head of the Ministry of the Interior Kirsi Pimiä told Yle that an external audit team of two or three people could possibly consist of researchers or auditors from the Finnish Audit Office (VTV).
The audit would be carried out under the guidance of the Ministry of the Interior and Finance, Pimiä added, and the report is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
"Some people have already been contacted tentatively. I think we will get the decision to start early next week," he said.
Source: The Nordic Page