Decade-High Uptick in Finnish Homicides Ascribed to COVID-Driven Stress, Financial Woes
Sputnik International
https://sputniknews.com/europe/202101261081880608-decade-high-uptick-in-finnish-homicides-ascribed-to-covid-driven-stress-financial-woes/
The stark 33-percent year-on-year rise represents a break from a steady downward trend, researchers said, pointing to the anti-COVID lockdown as the possible culprit. The last time Finland saw a similar anomaly was over legal amendments concerning alcohol.
In 2020, the number of homicides in Finland jumped to a several-year high, according to statistics released by the National Police Board.
A total of 489 incidents of attempted manslaughter, manslaughter, attempted murder, and murders were reported last year, indicating a marked 33-percent jump from the previous year. The year-on-year increase was especially driven by a surge in the number of attempted manslaughters and murders.
Last year s figures include 57 manslaughter and 33 murder cases.
The number of homicides increased sharply last spring, when Finland was under a state of emergency to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
In 2020, police were notified of a total of 489 homicides and attempted homicides in Finland. This is about a quarter more than in the previous year, when 397 attempted homicides or homicides were recorded.
Last year’s figures include 57 manslaughter and 33 murder cases. The police were also notified of 363 attempted manslaughter and 36 attempted murder cases.
The number of homicides has generally been declining since the 1990s. In 2018, the number of homicides increased by roughly 30 percent from the previous year, but in 2019 the figures started to decline again.