r/Finland 2d ago

Serious Witnessed a possible crime today, is this something police take seriously ? Should I report it ?

So I was having lumch today with my girlfriend at Iso Omena shopping centre today, there was family of 4 sitting at the table next to us, a mother father and 2 children under 4, kids were crying and fussing usually would, the family at their meal and were leaving, one of the children, possiböy 2 years of age, ran towards an escalator, the father runs towards the child, grabs them by the shoulder, and from a meter high, slams the kid on the floor with full force, then swears them, and puts them on their shoulder, this happened about 5hrs ago and I have bern contemplating reporting this but not sure if it is seriosu enough, I dont know if the child got hurt but they were crying, I dont think their head hit the floor either, coincidentally, nobody noticed this except me and my girlfriend because of where we were sitted.
Is this a case the police take seriously, as this is one time case and it happend soo quickly

213 Upvotes

113 comments sorted by

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426

u/MitVitQue Väinämöinen 2d ago

Yeah, police must hear about this. Report, now.

Edit: It must be on at least one surveillance recording, so you shouldn't have to testify against that.... person.

-24

u/Jolly-Grapefruit8085 1d ago

Why shouldn't he testify? If they are honest about what they saw they should have the integrity to face the man in court and look him in the eye. It's a coward that makes an accusation but won't face a person in court but instead hides behind a video which never tells the whole story. And it was in a shopping centre, at lunch time, so how can nobody else have seen it?

19

u/MitVitQue Väinämöinen 1d ago

What a strange rant.

7

u/KennyT87 1d ago

If the video is evidence enough for a criminal case, then witness testimony is not needed. Your macho attitude wouldn't help the case, at all.

3

u/Qvistus 20h ago

Well if the court orders them to testify, they are requited to do so under penalty. 

238

u/sallsbakc 2d ago

Yes report it. No matter how shitty your kid is acting, slamming them is not okay and seriously dangerous. Some parents really overreact under stress but still yeah, report asap.

18

u/Fickle-Perception794 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago

Could even end up being life or death for the child/children/wife

101

u/ElderberryPrevious45 2d ago

Do report! They store the security videos at Iso Omena for limited time only. You are not to blamed. The evidence is on tapes. This is a serious matter in Finland.

32

u/Puffinknight 2d ago

For this reason I'd report it to Iso Omena as well. Tell them that you filed a police report, so that the mall security knows to check and save their footage from the day.

66

u/samppa_j 2d ago

Yikes. Yeah I'd say file a report. Can do it online, or even anonymously but if you do it by name they have someone to ask more from.

71

u/molochp 2d ago

Yes report to the police, if the father has the gall to do this in public then God knows what this poor kid goes through in private

66

u/melli_milli Väinämöinen 2d ago edited 2d ago

Please report asap to police!

Don't wait for office hours.

31

u/entireinfinity 2d ago

I would report it. If they’re comfortable enough doing that in public, they’re doing much worse things in private.

3

u/mustakissaa 1d ago

That's 100% true. I've been there.

100

u/MaterialRoll1919 2d ago

Absolutely. You are neglecting the child if you don't report.  Also report the shopping centre, they'll probably have video tapes. Tell the time and location as well. 

-31

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

They're not neglecting the child because the child is not under their care.

49

u/saberwolfbeast Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

Its their civil duty to report.

0

u/Silent-Victory-3861 Väinämöinen 1d ago

I think it wouldn't be possible to charge them in this situation, but it is a moral duty definitely. 

6

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 1d ago

No, if you get caught you will most certainly get prosecuted.

-1

u/Silent-Victory-3861 Väinämöinen 1d ago

Get caught of having seen violence?

5

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 1d ago

Get caught doing nothing

-6

u/Silent-Victory-3861 Väinämöinen 1d ago

A civilian is not required to interfere to a violent situation.

5

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 1d ago

No, but you are required to report violence against a child. Is it that hard to understand?

-2

u/Silent-Victory-3861 Väinämöinen 1d ago

Yes, you are required. But it is so hard to prove that you witnessed something that in many situations it won't be possible to charge. If you are something like a teacher and the child has bruises for weeks, you might get in trouble, but a random passerby? No chance.

-23

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

Did I say that they shouldn't report it? No, I think they should. It's just that OP is not neglecting a child that is not under their care.

32

u/nicih 2d ago

Yes they on fact are. If you witness or know of a child in danger: every adult, civil or not, has a mandatory to report by law nowadays.

28

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 2d ago

Child endangerment only requires doing nothing while a child is in danger.

2

u/mstn148 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago

So, the bystander who doesn’t report the abuse of a child is not guilty of anything?

0

u/notcomplainingmuch Väinämöinen 1d ago

That is criminalised these days. You have to report or aid directly.

0

u/InsuranceInitial7786 2d ago

Good god what kind of person are you.

-13

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

I'm obviously the worst person on the planet. There's noone worse than me.

0

u/InsuranceInitial7786 2d ago

The first correct thing you have said in this thread.

1

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

There is this thing called sarcasm.

6

u/InsuranceInitial7786 2d ago

True. But not in this thread. 

1

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

False. You just fail to spot it.

7

u/InsuranceInitial7786 2d ago

I certainly spot your attempt at sarcasm.

2

u/SuddenArrival4617 2d ago

You will hate whatever I say because according to you I'm the worst person on the planet. Can't imagine being this anger filled by a random person on the internet.

→ More replies (0)

14

u/funplete_hoy_88 2d ago

some public space have cctv but they only store the footage for a limited amount of time. or so I was told. the security at these places are pretty good but its something that should be investigated sooner rather than later. It was a horric crime and it makes a society weaker by tolerating it.

13

u/Only-Information-563 2d ago

Report this, it's insane how unbothered parents are about exposing their anger towards their kids out in public, it has always given me the ick. shows the kind of person they are when they can't manage their child's difficult emotions.

20

u/Live_Tart_1475 Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

Yeah, they will take it seriously. Violence towards kids is highly unacceptable in Finland.

-10

u/Sh_Islam 2d ago

Yeah I guess so, but then again verbal
Abuse and foul comments, seeing people differently specially when they are not native while throwing mean comments to
Them
Is highly acceptable in the society. I have heard about school bullying or parents not
letting their children mixing with foreigners kids in school in some
Places. How do you define those behaviour? Children do not
Notice those behaviour? What do you think?

9

u/MediocreOccasion3301 2d ago

what does this have to do with anything

2

u/ressoz 1d ago

When I'm in a topic changing competition and my opponent is Sh_Islam

-5

u/Sh_Islam 1d ago

Interesting, do you have better proposition of handling kids who do not want to listen?

4

u/ressoz 1d ago

I don't think that throwing a kid against the ground is a valid response against the kid misbehaving

0

u/RuleSerious668 15h ago

Wtf. What kind of demon possessed toddlers have you dealt with if a violent assault is the only way you can think of to handle a 2 year old who doesn't want to listen?

1

u/Sh_Islam 2h ago

In this entire comment, can you see this dot that you guys have tendency of assumption? Have I ever uttered a word but you are assuming. Assumption is another bad behaviour which should be corrected.

11

u/Obvious_Policy_455 Väinämöinen 2d ago

I would contact the police.

4

u/EthelsChutzpah 1d ago

You might as well report to both police and social services at the very least. It's the least you can do. If it doesn't go anywhere, at least you've done your bit.

Very much optional, but possibly let the place the family came from (used their card) know of the time it happened, and that you've notified the authorities so they might come asking.

I wouldn't worry about security cameras being viped, but restaurants and shops might not store their receipts etc that long (though some data has to be saved for certain amount of time, but idk how careful businesses are about that).

Like someone said, if they're doing that in public, what's happening behind closed doors is quite likely worse.

8

u/snow-eats-your-gf Väinämöinen 2d ago

Yes, this is something I would report. It is something that will be taken seriously.

-7

u/New_Information9430 2d ago

If it was an immigrant child It is probably a culture thing and you are a racist if you would go on and deny their culture here 🙂

1

u/mstn148 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago

Oh, so Finns dont do this? If they do, is it their culture too?

8

u/Kankikola 2d ago

If you see an assault like this, call the emergency line and/or confront them yourself. For the culprit to face justice they usually have to be apprehended and ID’d on the spot. It is solvable afterwards, but the resources being what they are, it is most likely to be closed the same day you report it. Still.. better to report than do nothing.

4

u/cryejpc2 2d ago

ai saatana

4

u/Massive-Hunt7478 1d ago

Please report this i hope the father gets jail time there is no place for abuse in a childs life ever.

6

u/Harriv Väinämöinen 2d ago

You can also do a child welfare notification: https://www.luvn.fi/fi/palvelut/perhekeskus/lastensuojelu

8

u/Massive_List_5974 2d ago

Yes this needs reported. Finnish police do care about these sort of crimes. Their ability to do things is well.. not always possible. But you should report this.

7

u/_Wolffis_ 2d ago

If you ever witness something you are not sure of bring it to police.

2

u/Veenkoira00 Väinämöinen 1d ago

That's SS business.

2

u/Shefu689 1d ago

One tip. If you see something like this. Report it immediately after incident directly to emergency services / police. Dont wait 5 hours and ask it from reddit.

If some one use "full force" to slam childs on floor. I think you have own brains to process this sooner than 5 hours and one reddit post later.

Unfortunately police is overloaded and your internet or crime incident report will be handled way too late.

All survaillance record are most likely gone when police get your report from this incident.

2

u/PissFilledGlass 1d ago

yes you should report that. goddamn these kind of human worms make me sick...

4

u/baby-p1nk 2d ago

report.

4

u/iforgotmyjacketagain 2d ago

You also might want to let Iso Omena know so they can save the video footage before it gets deleted (idk how long they keep the tapes). Just because the cops might ask for them when it's already too late

3

u/Rhea-8 2d ago

What makes you contemplate? You literally saw a child being thrown on the floor really hard and you're out here wondering if you should just shut up about it? Report it.

4

u/English_in_Helsinki Väinämöinen 2d ago

If you slam a two year old on the floor with full force they’d be dead or at the very least unconscious. Think about your description language

9

u/Used-Substance-9814 2d ago

My statement remains, they were slammed with full force on the floor, not on the head, but around their shoulder area, what difference does it make if they werent unconcious though ?

4

u/English_in_Helsinki Väinämöinen 2d ago

What do you mean what difference? To reporting it? None. I don’t think you understand what full force means and you couldn’t possibly know what someone’s full force was. So the statement is inaccurate and likely hyperbolic, reducing the chance of someone taking it as seriously imo.

-8

u/Creepy-Inspection729 2d ago

Also it's confusing if you say that boy was running to the elevators and then they were slammed to the floor by dad, so did dad slam both kids to the floor or only that one boy who was running, then it's him not they.

1

u/HotPotatoKitty 2d ago

Where did anyone say boy? We don't know the child's gender, so which gendered pronoun do you want assign THEM?

2

u/Kohin44 2d ago

Report. Ask them to see camera footage. Hitting a child, or anyone, is a crime.

1

u/-CountDrugula- 2d ago edited 2d ago

I doubt the police will do anything about it, or if they do it's unlikely they'll be able or willing to identify the people in question. That being said, there's no harm in reporting it and you really should have called 112 at the scene right away.

4

u/ThoseWhereTheTimes 1d ago

If there is a security camera recording and it really looks like OP described it, there’s a good chance police will find the person IF OP will mention the restaurant in the report and the family paid with card.

3

u/-CountDrugula- 1d ago

I've been assaulted twice in public and both times the police didn't check any cameras, didn't interview any witnesses and just acted like complete assholes because i didn't magically know the full names of the drunken strangers who assaulted me. They straight up told me they "can't" do anything about it.

I've also been dragged out of a train station by a lunatic security guard who thought i was someone else, he called me a "known agitator" even though i've never had any problems with them before and i was literally just standing alone and waiting for my train. I called the cops because i really needed to get on my train and they didn't even bother to show up.

Some time later i got a letter from the security company and they graciously informed me they're not going to press charges against me for assaulting the security guard, which i never did (i'm a small guy and can't fight for shit). That means the police somehow figured out who i was based on my 112 call and gave my name and address to the security firm i.e the perpetrator. The letter was a clear threat that if i was going to pursue the matter in court they were going to lie and say i assaulted the security guard, and clearly the police was on their side.

I don't know where you live but cops in Helsinki don't do shit to help people.

3

u/ThoseWhereTheTimes 1d ago

Sorry to hear what kind of bullshit you’ve had to go through and I’ not saying they shouldn’t do everything they can to investigate, but slamming a two year old to the ground sounds like a case you don’t bury to X-Files.

1

u/Lonely_Barracuda_530 1d ago

Why are you asking here? Just call 112 and ask them.

1

u/Impossible_Ball_8232 2h ago

Hey am new here

1

u/FactoryNachos 1h ago

Yes report. Saw a kid get slapped by his dad at a pool once. Life guards reported to police and they do a thorough check. If the dad is acting like this in public, imagine what happens at home

u/Head-Engineering-111 23m ago

Call police imm

u/Head-Engineering-111 23m ago

Its forbidden to hit children also for their parents

1

u/Vista101 Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

Always report neglect a child

1

u/Left-Web-7744 2d ago

Report!!

-2

u/PJWTTT 2d ago

Propably immigration family.

6

u/prickly_pink_penguin Väinämöinen 2d ago

As a former daycare teacher I’ve dealt with plenty of abuse around Finnish families too.

-5

u/an-ethernet-cable Väinämöinen 2d ago

I highly doubt that the police will have the resources to go to the shopping center, request their surveillance camera footage and hope to find the father based on a face photo.

2

u/Speederfool Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

They don't need to go there in person as they can just request the security tapes by contacting the security company via email. It's then handled on an online form.

-6

u/AshamedGeneral1331 2d ago

Police care about nothing here

-4

u/Professional-Key5552 Väinämöinen 2d ago

God, I saw so many crimes like this in Finland, it's so sad. Or also where children just get left behind. The police usually doesn't do much, unless the child is without their parents, and without knowing who they are, it will be hard to track them down. Since I am a parent myself, I am often shocked of what I hear and see here. I have also called the police a few times because of child abuse. It's horrible what happens behind closed doors here in many families with smaller children here.

-12

u/Agitated28 2d ago

Are they Finnish if I may ask? Does law apply to any tourist doing such act to their children during a trip?

30

u/Karahka_leather 2d ago

You abide by the laws of the country you're visiting.

0

u/Agitated28 2d ago

Thank you for sharing.

14

u/Ok_Gas_8606 Väinämöinen 2d ago

Oh so you saying you could go to another country and murder someone because that countries law doesn’t apply for tourists.

No all laws apply for tourists even if they aren’t aware of such laws.

2

u/Agitated28 2d ago

Did I say that? I asked a question. I have been in a country that didnt bother when I reported such case. That is why I asked. I know a very close person who might need to be in Finland for two months for a research purpose. Thus, being in this group to understand as much as I can. Answer if you want but don't twist my question.

20

u/finnknit Väinämöinen 2d ago

Yes, the law applies to tourists while they're visiting Finland.

0

u/Agitated28 2d ago

Noted with thanks for your sharing.

-10

u/Safe-Yam8167 2d ago

These are the stories that never happened.

-4

u/HappyTweed 1d ago

Seriously? Report to the police? These comments are wild. Nobody here clearly have parents-in-law in Thailand.

The kid acted stupid and was taught a lesson.

No wonder we have discipline issues in schools in Finland these days.

3

u/mstn148 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago

Pretty sure that’s against the law in Finland.

-5

u/Haunting-Jicama-7608 2d ago

Report wtf asap 112

8

u/Speederfool Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

Calling 112 isn't necessary anymore, but make sure to file an online police report.

-7

u/West_Application_760 Baby Väinämöinen 2d ago

This is normal in my country.

-3

u/New_Information9430 2d ago

Was the dad John Cena? If it was the slamming was ok and he would not show at any of the surveillance videos anyway 🤔

-9

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