“The gang debate was constructed through the combined efforts of politicians, officials and the media,” he says.
Taponen disputes the claim that youth crime is on the rise. “Young people commit less violence than at any point in Finland’s recorded history. At the same time, attitudes toward crime have hardened: young people accept criminal behaviour even less than before.”
He argues that the discrepancy between research and statistics can be explained by the fact that police surveillance increasingly targets a small group, schools and authorities report minor incidents more frequently, and offences by under-15s now appear in police statistics even though they were previously directed straight to child protection.
“The rise in the numbers reflects increased control, not increased crime. Yet those figures are used to justify tougher measures.”
Taponen is also cautious about comparisons that present Sweden’s situation as Finland’s inevitable future. “We have our own path. And we can choose it.”
He hopes that the next government will focus on reducing polarization and restoring trust in institutions. Finland’s shrinking workforce and ageing population make diversity, in his view, a practical necessity. “We have a serious shortage of skilled workers. We need international students, employees and families. But current immigration policy doesn’t attract anyone.”
Asked what he considers Finland’s greatest threat, he answers quickly: “Prejudice.”
Taponen’s outspoken views have made him a frequent target for criticism, particularly from the Perussuomalaiset, which has repeatedly challenged him in public.
In 2023, he received the Helsinki Medal for distinguished service — an award opposed by PS MP Jussi Halla-aho, now speaker of parliament. Halla-aho argued that Taponen’s social media activity was politically charged and risked eroding confidence in the impartiality of authorities. His objections, however, were not accepted, and the medal was awarded as planned.
Additional reporting by Mahad Sheikh Musse.
Read the Finnish version of the story here.