In the current situation, the risk presented by various forms of hybrid threats, threats to critical infrastructure, and sabotage such as cyberattacks has grown. Helsinki is preparing for everything from small, isolated disturbances to more comprehensive and serious threat scenarios. The city is also strengthening its preparedness for more frequent extreme weather phenomena.
We maintain a high standard of risk management throughout our organisation. We take continuity management and preparedness for disruptions and crisis situations into consideration in our planning of the city’s service production as well as in the competence and skills development of our staff.
We will strengthen the readiness of Helsinki’s residents and their independent preparations for various disruptions and crisis situations. We promote the critical literacy of our city inhabitants as well as their ability to recognise disinformation.
We ensure that the city maintains a reliable and trustworthy digital services environment. We safeguard the data security of the city’s services. We will improve our digital security of supply and assess the city’s possible dependencies on cloud services and information systems outside the EU. We will safeguard the operations of critical infrastructure such as the electrical grid and water distribution in every circumstance.
We are strengthening our civil defence. We are resolutely developing the city’s civil defence preparedness. We are investing in the construction and renovation of civil defence shelters.
We safeguard the city’s safety and security by reacting swiftly and preventively to threatening phenomena and situations. All areas of Helsinki will be kept safe. We are resolutely working to increase people’s sense of safety and security in the city. We are also developing the safety and security culture of the city organisation. The security aspect is comprehensively and systematically considered in all the city’s operations and development.
Helsinki creates a sense of safety and security every day by providing reliable services, employees that work among the city’s residents and other ways of being present. The patrolling and outreach work of different services plays an important part in strengthening the safety and security of different areas. We make sure that children and young people can enjoy their recreational activities safely and that operators who receive grants from the city for this purpose comply with our ethical principles. We are expanding anti-racism instruction at all levels of education.
We will intensify our cooperation with the police and maintain a close security cooperation network with the central government authorities. We will ensure that the Helsinki Rescue School for training rescue professionals can continue its operations.
We combat misogynistic and other gender-based harassment and violence by actively intervening in observed incidents, increasing support services and investing in preventive measures.
A pleasant urban environment that is in good condition strengthens local feelings of safety and security. We will ensure that all city spaces are well-maintained and tidy, and other conditions that strengthen safety are in order. We promote traffic safety and an urban environment where children can move around safely and independently. When planning traffic arrangements, we will not plan unnecessary routes through residential areas.