Amendments to legislation were proposed to increase the applicability of the general sentencing enhancement for bias-motivated crimes, to specifically include bias motivations of “race”, religion, sexual orientation and disability. Additionally, the provision no longer requires the victim to be a member of a specific group, as long as the victim or targeted property was perceived by the offender to be associated with a particular group. The amendments were adopted in March 2011 and entered into force on 1 June 2011.

Victim Support Finland, a national service advising victims of crime, added advisory services for hate crime victims and data collection on such crimes as part of its mandate. Staff training occurred in regional offices and 26 local areas. In addition, the Interior Ministry trained police officers on addressing hate crimes and increased co-operation with minority groups to improve responses.

Official figures record 911 racist and xenophobic hate crimes: 543 physical assaults including two attempted murders, 142 cases of damage to property/vandalism, 58 cases of disturbance of the peace, and 168 cases of threats.

Finland also reported 177 cases of criminal defamation, 27 of discrimination, and 53 other cases, which are included in the total number of hate crimes but not in the total of racist and xenophobic hate crimes.

Official figures record 41 anti-religious crimes, including 13 physical assaults, 7 cases of damage to property/vandalism, 5 of disturbance of domestic peace and 16 cases of threats.

Hate crimes reported under this category cover all anti-religious hate crime, without disaggregation by faith.

Finland also reported cases of criminal defamation, 2 of discrimination and 5 other cases, which are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of anti-religious hate crimes.

Official figures record 132 hate crimes, including 107 physical assaults based on bias against LGBT, one case of disturbance of the peace, 16 cases of damage to property and eight cases of threats.

Finland also reported 19 cases of criminal defamation, 6 of discrimination and 3 other cases, which are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of hate crimes against LGBT people.

Official  figures record 10 cases of crimes based on bias towards people with disabilities including six physical assaults, two cases of disturbance of the peace, one case of threats and one case of damage to property.

Finland also reported 5 cases of criminal defamation and 10 of discrimination, which are included in the overall hate crime figure but not in the total of hate crimes against people with disabilities.