Reporting Child Abuse to Police: Effects of a Lowered Threshold on Criminal Case Progression

Abstract

Violence against children is a serious problem that society must address as effectively as possible. In Finland, efforts to address violence against children have included strengthening the role of the police in such cases. Since 2015, professionals have been legally required to report suspected child abuse directly to the police, with a reporting threshold that is exceptionally low by international comparison. This article examines national crime statistics from 2009 to 2024 to track the number of cases brought to police attention. It also analyzes how these cases progress and the duration of criminal investigations over the same period. The results show that, although crime reports have increased, the number of cases proceeding to the consideration of charges has not. At the same time, the duration of criminal investigations has steadily lengthened. Our findings suggest that expanding mandatory reporting—particularly without a significant increase in resources for the authorities—does not strengthen children’s legal protection and may, in fact, create bottlenecks in the investigative process.