Finland makes police archives public.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT: News, Trends & Analysis - Brief article

For the first time, Finland's Security Police, Supo, will make its archives public next year.

Supo Communications Manager Liinu Lehto-Seljavaara told the daily Aamulehti that in 2009 its 1949 archives will be transferred to the National Archives, where they will be accessible to anyone. Currently, access to Supo archives is limited to those with official permission from the Security Police.

"We don't anticipate a mad rush, but it's still difficult to tell, as this is the first time that the archives will be made public," said Lehto-Seljavaara.

This is a big change for the organization. Although Finnish law requires the Security Police to make its annual reports...