The function of each police department is to maintain general law and order, prevent crime, investigate crime and other events that threaten public order and safety, to carry out traffic control and surveillance and promote traffic safety, and perform all other duties prescribed by law or otherwise assigned to the police in their area.

The NBI was formed in 1954 to assist the country's other police elements in efforts against crime, particularly that of a serious or deeply rooted nature.

To carry out its mission, the force has advanced technical means at its disposal, and it maintains Finland's fingerprint and identification files.

Originally, local police districts were very small and had limited resources, so a separate mobile police organization was founded for riot control, alcohol law enforcement and reserve force duties.

Political reliability and independence from local strongmen was also important because of the threat from fascists; indeed, the first task was to escort former president K.J.

[11] The police uses a VATV (Vaativan ajotavan valvonta) unit that is specialized in high-speed driving and pursuits.

The unit consists of specially trained police officers who utilize several unmarked high-performance cars.

The rank insignia for Senior Constable is a single bar, added with two chevrons for Sergeant.

The most common patrol vehicle of police in Finland is Volkswagen Transporter, usually with 2.5 L diesel engines.