New hate crime amendments entered into force on 1 June 2011. These amendments increased the applicability of the general sentencing enhancement for bias-motivated crime to specifically include motivations against “race”, religion, sexual orientation and disability. Additionally, the provision no longer requires the victim to be a member of a specific group, provided that the victim or targeted property was perceived by the offender to be associated with a particular group.

The National Police Board issued instructions for police on recording and categorizing hate crime, which entered into force in January 2012. The categorization method aims to provide more detailed information on hate crimes, including prevalence, victims and perpetrators, in order to improve understanding of the issues around hate crime and better detect patterns of linked incidents for better informed policing responses.

Official figures record 909 racist and xenophobic hate crimes: 640 physical assaults including three attempted murders, 108 cases of damage to property/vandalism, 23 cases of disturbance of the peace, and 138 cases of threats.

Finland also reported 167 cases of criminal defamation, 87 of discrimination, and 66 other types of case, which are included in the total number of hate crimes but not in the total of racist and xenophobic hate crimes.

Official figures record 73 anti-religious crimes, including 29 physical assaults, 25 cases of damage to property/vandalism, 5 disturbances of domestic peace and 14 cases of threats.

Hate crimes reported under this category cover all anti-religious hate crime, without disaggregation by faith. Finland also reported 8 cases of criminal defamation and 7 other cases, which are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of anti-religious hate crimes.

Official figures record 59 hate crimes, including 48 physical assaults based on bias against LGBT, one case of disturbance of the peace, two cases of damage to property and eight cases of threats.

Official data were reported separately for LGB and transgender hate crime but are presented together here.

Finland also reported 8 cases of criminal defamation, three of discrimination and one other case, which  are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of hate crimes against LGBT.

Official figures record 17 cases of crimes based on bias towards people with disabilities including 12 physical assaults, two cases of threats, and three cases of damage to property.

Finland also reported 9 cases of criminal defamation, and four cases of discrimination, which are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of hate crimes against people with disabilities.