The number of crime victims seeking help from Victim Support Finland (RIKU) increased by 11% last year. It was mainly women who sought help.
RIKU provides advice and support to victims of crime or attempted crime, as well as to victims’ families and witnesses. Last year, the number of victims calling the hotline increased by 31,000 compared to 2022, an increase of 11%. Between 2021 and 2022, the number increased by 18%.
The largest increase was in victims seeking support by phone, with approximately 4,900 victims contacting the hotline. This is 800 more than in 2022.
– Becoming a crime victim is almost always a surprising and difficult experience, says Leena-Kaisa Åberg, Executive Director of the Finnish National Crime Agency. In addition to the personal support and counselling, Victim Support Finland influences societal attitudes and aims to strengthen the position of victims by means of influencing.
The organization’s special support unit for victims of human trafficking also reported a record number of victims last year, with about 1,400 people using the service.
76% of those seeking help were women. The most common reasons for contacting us last year were domestic violence, sexual crimes, property crimes and bullying.
