Monitoring Report: The operations of the reception centres and detention units were active and competent during the year of the coronavirus

The Finnish Immigration Service manages the reception system and detention units and supervises their operations. Cooperation between the Finnish Immigration Service and the reception centres and detention unit is continuous.

In accordance with the monitoring programme, the monitoring of the reception centres’ operations last year focused on the practices, costs, facilities, readiness and contracting with service providers. Furthermore, the Finnish Immigration Service drew up a separate monitoring programme for detention units.

“The teams at the reception centres and detention units showed genuine ambition to do things right. The units strictly complied with guidelines and, overall, their operations were highly successful in 2020,” says Olli Snellman, Head of Section in charge of the reception centres.

The spread of the coronavirus was stopped through planned actions, spatial reorganisation and advice

The coronavirus situation within the reception system and the detention units remained relatively even throughout the year and was satisfactory in most of the units.

However, containing the pandemic required extensive operative and spatial replanning from the Finnish Immigration Service as well as the reception centres and detention units. The preventive measures taken at the units as well as the procedures followed in the case of detected exposure and infections were proactive, competent and in line with the adopted coronavirus contingency plans. Cooperation between the Finnish Immigration Service and local communicable disease authorities was efficient.

“The crucial thing in responding to the coronavirus pandemic was to immediately step up communications towards the customers and to share information on the situation and what was expected of them. In general, our customers acted very responsibly and their role was absolutely essential in the positive outcome,” Snellman says.

The reception centres and detention units gave advice to their customers about the coronavirus situation and shared information in languages most commonly spoken by the customers.

Read more about monitoring:

• Reception System Monitoring Report 2020 (in Finnish)
• Detention Unit Monitoring Programme 2020 (in Finnish)
• Reception System Monitoring Programme 2019 (in Finnish)

FACT: The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for coordination, planning and supervision

• The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for the coordination, planning and supervision of the operations of all reception centres for asylum seekers. Within the agency, this task is mainly carried out by the Reception Unit.
• The reception centres in Finland are maintained by several operators, local authorities, companies and organisations.
• Further information about the operations of the reception centres is available in the information bank