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Particularly challenging asylum seekers to receive intensified support

Migri
Publication date 22.2.2017 13.11
Press release

The reception centres in Helsinki, Turku and Oulu will introduce an operations model where intensified support is given to particularly challenging asylum seekers.

So called particularly challenging asylum seekers are persons who have, for example, mental health issues or problems with drugs and alcohol or who behave aggressively or are a disturbance to the other inhabitants and the staff in the reception centre.

No separate reception centres for particularly challenging clients

There has previously been discussion in the media about plans to establish separate reception centres for challenging clients. After a study carried out by the Finnish Immigration Service and the National Police Board, it has been decided that the best solution is to increase the professional competence of the staff at all reception centres.

Problematic behaviour is not very common among asylum seeker. Placing asylum seekers behaving in a disturbing or problematic way in the same location could also in itself constitute a significant risk.

Problematic behaviour is dealt with at the reception centre

The professional competence and the ability to deal with different types of challenging clients is continuously being developed among the staff at the reception centres. The Finnish Immigration Service and social and health care professionals have been offering training for the staff at the reception centres. As a rule, the problematic behaviour is dealt with at the asylum seeker’s own reception centre.

The client only receives intensified support and guidance if there is a real need for this and if the resources at the asylum seeker’s own reception centre are no longer sufficient. The reception centres that offer intensified support are located in cities that have many years’ experience of the reception of asylum seekers.

Further information for the media

Pekka Nuutinen, Director of Reception Unit, 0295 430 431, firstname.lastname@migri.fi

Press release