A Finland-Sweden cross-border police cooperation agreement began on Wednesday, July 1, enabling emergency assistance between the two countries in border municipalities. Under the new arrangement, police can request help for urgent situations affecting life and health, and officers may also cross on their own initiative to take temporary measures when there is an immediate threat before the host country’s police arrive.

The system is meant to shorten response times, particularly in northern rural areas where delays can be longer than in southern urban regions. Both Finnish and Swedish officers have been trained for this type of operation, and Finland’s police say the agreement will improve public safety across the Torne Valley.

In Finland, the cooperation applies in the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio and Ylitornio. In Sweden, it covers Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala and Övertorneå. Police leadership on both sides described the goal as making the border region safer and reducing response times in the most serious cases.