Kiinnipito

Kiinnipito is a police-initiated temporary detention used in Finland during criminal investigations. It allows authorities to hold a person who is suspected of a crime in order to continue the investigation, prevent flight, protect evidence, or maintain public safety. As a provisional measure, kiinnipito is distinct from longer-term detention decided by a court and from other framework measures used later in a case.

Legal basis and scope: Kiinnipito is governed by the Finnish Criminal Procedure Act and related legislation. Detention must be based on objective grounds and be proportionate to the purposes of the investigation. The measure is intended to be temporary and subject to judicial review, with limits on how long it can last and under what conditions it can be extended.

Procedure: The police decide on kiinnipito and must inform the person of the grounds for detention and their relevant rights. The detainee is generally entitled to contact a lawyer and to communicate with a person of their choice. A judge or other reviewing authority must typically review the detention within a short time and may release the person or extend the detention if justified by the circumstances and the need to continue the investigation.

Rights of the detainee: During kiinnipito the person retains certain fundamental rights, including access to legal counsel, notification of the grounds for detention, and opportunities to challenge the decision. If the detention is extended, further judicial review is usually required.

Relation to other measures: Kiinnipito is a transitional measure in the pursuit of evidence and may be followed by longer-term detention or release, depending on the case and court decisions. Oversight and procedural safeguards aim to ensure proportionality and respect for human rights.