Move to restore public trust in police on

Interior Minister Paula Risikko noted on Wednesday that all Finnish police officers will have to attend training sessions on social media matters after a scandal of racist comments made by an online police group.

Risikko reviewed police-related social media issues in a written response to a question from member of parliament Matti Semi.

Risikko admitted in her response that the uproar about racism in the police forces may have diminished public trust, especially among the minorities. "Measures have been taken to restore confidence," she wrote.

Earlier this year, a closed social media group of the police force was revealed to have had racist and extremist content. The national police administration has since drawn up new social media guidelines for the police.

The guidelines remind that members of the police must behave properly during off hours in such a way that does not put at risk the trust in the police. The requirement is valid even when an alias name is used or when a forum has a restricted access only.

The rules also require that supervisors must intervene in any behaviour that is in contravention of the new guidelines.

The case of alleged racist writings is still being assessed at the office of the state prosecution. The prosecutor in charge of the work, Laura Sairanen, told newspaper Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday that decision on launching an actual investigation has not been taken yet.