Police licence administration
Police licence administration is effective but needs more flexible resource allocation. Cost-effectiveness is achieved well in police licence services. With a more centralised network and more flexible resources, licence administration services could be produced more efficiently.
Photo: Teemu Kalijärvi
Scope of the audit
- Efficiency, economy and effectiveness of police licence administration
- Achievement of the targets set for licence administration
- Quality and regional uniformity of licence administration
- The audit also examined how the police have developed permit matters together with other authorities
Key findings
- The audit found that while few targets have been set for the licence administration, they have been achieved well
- The indicators used for the performance management of the licence administration are currently inadequate and do little to describe its quality and service capacity
- While police licence services have been cost-effective, the differences between licence categories have been significant
- The resource allocation model of the licence administration has no flexibility to respond to fluctuations in demand and attaches little weight to free-of-charge licence supervision
- Some regional differences were found in the police licence services and supervision. Cooperation between the police and other authorities in licence matters is mainly effective
Briefly
The National Audit Office has audited the police licence administration, in other words licence services and supervision of licences. The most common licence services provided by the police include issuing passports and identity cards, whereas their licence supervision focuses on firearms permits and rights to drive, for instance. In 2024, the costs incurred from the police licence services amounted to around EUR 56 million and the revenue to around EUR 64 million. The costs of the licence supervision were approx. EUR 28 million.
The audit was conducted as various risks had been identified in the activities of the police licence administration, particularly relating to the smooth running of licence procedures, the information systems used for licence administration and the cost-effectiveness of the activities.
Police licence administration is effective but needs more flexible resource allocation.
The police issue more than one million licences and permits a year
1,442,093
Fee-based licences and permits issued by the police in 2024
Recommendations of the National Audit Office
The National Police Board should reform the resource allocation model of the licence administration to address fluctuations in licence numbers and free-of-charge licence administration activities.
The Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board should develop performance indicators for the licence administration that also address quality and customer satisfaction. The National Police Board should develop performance targets for the licence administration together with the police departments, stressing aspects that can be influenced by the police.
The National Police Board should issue instructions to ensure that the practices of licence services and supervision are consistent in the areas of different police departments, and develop licence supervision assisted by information systems at the national level.
The Ministry of the Interior should ensure cost-effectiveness in each licence category.
Timing of follow-up
The follow-up of the audit will be conducted in 2028.
Contact persons
Katri Lammi
Principal Performance Auditor
Performance audit
Audit areas: Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior