Finnish police > General principles of operation > Police rights > Citizen’s arrest

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Citizen’s arrest

The apprehension of offenders is a duty primarily left to the police. However, since the police are not always immediately available at the crime scene, a citizen's arrest may have to be made. The provisions on citizen's arrests laid down in the Coercive Measures Act allow a private citizen to apprehend an offender under certain conditions.

Anyone has the right to apprehend an offender caught in the act or escaping from the scene of a crime if the offence is punishable by imprisonment or if it is a petty assault, petty theft, petty embezzlement, petty unauthorized use, petty vandalism or petty fraud. A wanted person can also be apprehended.

Apprehended persons must be handed over to the police without delay.

Private citizens should not, however, exercise their right to make a citizen's arrest if it would endanger their own safety or that of others.



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