An Investigation into African Immigrants' Experiences with the Police in Finland

Abstract

Individual African immigrants' experiences with the police in Finland often seem to be characterised by tension and suspicion. This article examines how Finnish respondents' perceptions of the police are affected by their previous encounters. In an effort to explain this phenomenon, the article examines why these past experiences have sometimes impacted on African immigrants' attitudes toward the police. Also, the article attempts to understand the role that ‘race’ played in the respondents' attitudes, a variable which is shown to be responsible for their perspective. In addition, it is argued that the respondents' personal experiences are affected by their previous encounters (or an encounter of a close friend) with the police in Finland. In analysing the social role played by these encounters, the study draws attention to their analytical significance to the respondents. Furthermore, in investigating these experiences with the police, this article attempts to describe the way individual African immigrants use their experiences to draw conclusions about the police. Finally, this study also draws on the importance of these previous experiences in view of the fact that African immigrants are often in the marginalised sector of the economy, for the aim is to improve our understanding of their everyday experiences.