Is Finland Dangerous?

[NanaM]

According to a Global Peace Index, that gathered information on 121 countries, the safest countires in order are:

[...]

i don't see Australia there. do you? Finland is one of most safest countries so far in the world "at the moment"

This is not an index of safety alone, but of peacefulness (including some factors related to safety). Look at the factors included in the methodology. A few only relate to violence/crimes amongst the population, while many refer to wars (external too) or propension of the country to spend in military, or their relations with other countries, which has not much to do with the daily feeling of safety/security the OP was referring to.

The statistics of crime per capita are not as shining for Finland.

That being said in everyday's life I feel much safer in Espoo or Helsinki than I ever did in my hometown in France, which was not even Paris.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

As the first poster (on NationMaster) said:

"Comparing international crime statistics must be done with great caution. Statistics compiled by the United Nations are based on surveys that specify that crimes be counted based on each country's legislated definition of what constitute a "crime". Some countries may include misdemeanor offences, where a fine is issued while others may only count imprisionable offences. Also, counting the crime takes place at different places in the law-enforcement process. Consequently, some countries may count every reported breach of the law, while others may only count cases that make it to court, and even then only the most serious of several charges laid. Because there is so much inconsistency in these statistics, they might also be a quality measure of the standard and efficiency of law enforcement and the criminal justice system of a country, rather than having anything to do with actual prevalence of crime."

Also Nation Master often has very outdated info...

"SOURCE: Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1998 - 2000 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention)"

Nation Master is great but you really have to check those dates...Of course, I doubt it has changed so much but still.

All I know is I feel safer here and see a lot less crime than I would in my hometown in the UK. And that for me is more important than statistics.

[FraserinFinland]

Aussie is well known for it's mass murder of backpackers so I understand your concern in travelling as 'Backpackers' are fair game in Aus. I wouldn't get to worried here. Yes you get some pissed up people doing some strange stuff, but then it is no worse than any Aussie town.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Hehehe...Deliverance down under style.

Have any film adaptations been made of those famous cases? Could do quite well.

[NanaM]

Nation Master is great but you really have to check those dates...Of course, I doubt it has changed so much but still.

You have a point. But I would rather quote an outdated crime statistics than quote on a Global Peace Index if claiming Finland is safer than Australia. Would be interesting to find more recent figures.

All I know is I feel safer here and see a lot less crime than I would in my hometown in the UK. And that for me is more important than statistics.

Agreed, the statistics may be misleading and the feeling of security can hardly be described by statistics.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

A similiar thread is going on in another 'room' of this forum.

there was an interesting discussion in the UK a few years ago as the crime rates had dropped considerably. It was a huge drop. Then a lot of people came out and stated that crime is even worse but no one reports it as the police don't give a cr@p and/or are powerless to do anything if your phone gets stolen, car wimndow gets put though. And the victim will go down to the cop shop and sit around for an hour or 2 and fill in some forms that will be shelved and never looked at.

The easist thing to do is go and buy a new phone. So the public (in the UK) just aren't reporting small crimes anymore. And i am sure this isn't just happening in the UK.

Looking at crime figures is always difficult...Fun though.

I've had my car radio stolen in the UK 3 times...Had cars for about 4 or 5 years. Been in Finland for 8 years, had my bike nicked. Maybe I am lucky, but I think it's not that.

[FraserinFinland]

Well having lived in NZ, Aussie, UK and now Finland. I would say that NZ has more of a similar 'issues' to Finland.

But what someone who is pissed and someone who wants to rob you are two different things.

[VanLarkin]

According to a Global Peace Index, that gathered information on 121 countries, the safest countires in order are:

1. Norway
2. [etc].

i don't see Australia there. do you? Finland is one of most safest countries so far in the world "at the moment"

Well that is because Australia has more serial killers then actual thugs and heavies. Here in Australia you are more likely to get 'killed' then bashed and you aren't very likely to get killed. That might sound stupid but honestly, there are a !"#¤%-load of murders here, at least in Sydney and Melbourne especially. Lots of people don't count Tasmania either because its incest-capital and also because it's the most boring place in Australia.

But I was under the influence that Iceland was the safest country in the world. Cops don't carry guns, you can leave your baby in its carriage outside in summer when its warm enough and it wont get kidnapped and that theres hardly any thefts. However the bible code said we'd all be dead by 2002, and we're still here. Which is why I am asking peoples opinions individually instead of looking at statistics on a website that are probably complete garbage.

But yes Australia should be known well enough now we don't have a shortage of sick fuc** here that like to butcher people. But I must say the last 5 infamous and very well known (atleast here) serial killers were all foreigners.

Aussie is well known for it's mass murder of backpackers so I understand your concern in travelling as 'Backpackers' are fair game in Aus. I wouldn't get to worried here. Yes you get some pissed up people doing some strange stuff, but then it is no worse than any Aussie town.

That's a very easy-to-understand way to put things. Thanks!. But in a way I have to beg to differ, Australia is very safe for backpackers as long as you don't go hitching at night and also as long as you don't trust strangers. There are many places here to have your way with someone and then dump them in one of the thousands of acres of scrubland here where they would never be found.

However if you lose something here, its gone. It will never get returned even by your best friend.

Hehehe...Deliverance down under style.
Have any film adaptations been made of those famous cases? Could do quite well.

Oh please don't remind me of that movie. I almost felt like hiding under the blankets when I thought of how many American's and Brits that had seen that :\

[flycharlles]

Portugal ? That's laughable . Maybe Portugal was safe in the past but It doesn't seem like that now days.

[EP]

But I was under the influence that Iceland was the safest country in the world. Cops don't carry guns, you can leave your baby in its carriage outside in summer when its warm enough and it wont get kidnapped

Do Finnish cops carry guns? I mean when they are just patrolling, and not catching an armed robber?

Babies sleep outside also in Finland, and also in winter. That is good for them. Fresh air gives better sleep. And I remember only one "kidnapping". A seven-year-old girl had taken a baby from the carriage and carried it to a nearby park. She wanted to play with a real baby instead of a doll.

[EP]

carriage = pram

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Hehehe...Deliverance down under style.
Have any film adaptations been made of those famous cases? Could do quite well.

Oh please don't remind me of that movie. I almost felt like hiding under the blankets when I thought of how many American's and Brits that had seen that :\

why? I am confused! It's set in the US.

Of course you did forget to mention one australian fella and a personal hero of mine...the great uncle chop chop himself ->

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

But yes Australia should be known well enough now we don't have a shortage of sick fuc** here that like to butcher people. But I must say the last 5 infamous and very well known (atleast here) serial killers were all foreigners.

Could you name them? Just out of interest. I don't know much about Australia's criminal stuff besides Mark Brandon Read.

I know there's a lot of gangster activity in Melbourne / Sydney.

[otyikondo]

The dingo is innocent, OK?

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

"it stole my baby....."

What happened to that case? didn't some hunters admit to finding it or something.