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Police release 3 security guards suspected of on-the-job crimes

Conditions for their continued detainment had not been met, but all three of the individuals remain suspects, police say.

Poliisin hihamerkki ja poliisi-teksti selässä.
File photo of police officers' uniforms. Image: Toni Pitkänen / Yle
  • Yle News

Police in Eastern Uusimaa have released three security guards who were detained over the weekend under suspicion of various offences while they were on the job.

Police inspector Paavo Ritari said that the conditions for their continued detainment had not been met, but all three of the individuals are still suspects.

"They are suspected of assault crimes," Ritari said.

The department announced on Monday that the three guards, who work for Avarn Security Finland, had been detained. They are part of investigations concerning suspected violent acts that were allegedly carried out near capital region train stations.

The detainments were related to a broader set of suspected criminal acts that allegedly took place between May to December 2022. The nature of the suspected crimes range from assault, threatening, defamation, breach of privacy and breaches of laws on intoxicants.

According to police, some of the alleged assaults committed by the guards were captured on video.

"It's possible that new suspects will be revealed when we examine the materials during the investigation," Ritari said.

Last week police said they suspect at least six security guards of various degrees of abuse during working hours. Five of those individuals were still being detained as of Tuesday.

In a company statement on Monday, Avarn Security Finland's managing director, Niclas Sacklén, apologised for the situation, saying that the company had a "zero tolerance policy" for inappropriate behaviour.

The company also said that an investigation of the firm's corporate culture and operating methods by a third party would be carried out alongside an internal probe.

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