Now take a break from design and return to life in Nordic Countries, to be correct, in one of them - Finland.

When I opened up my RSS reader and checked the Finland for thought feed, I don’t believed my eyes and sat down stagnated a while. My first impression was scaring, judge itself:

Helsinki and Vantaa police spot-checking foreigners without residence permit
Inspections in shopping malls and stations

The Helsinki and Vantaa police departments have stepped up the inspections of foreigners’ residence permits. Police officers are making spot checks in places where foreigners typically gather, including shopping malls, railway stations, and harbours.

In Vantaa, spot checks have been made in the shopping centres of Myyrmanni and Jumbo, among others. In Espoo, random inspections are not worthwhile, as the number of targets would be comparatively low, says Chief Inspector Aaro Väätäinen.

Anyone looking or sounding foreign can be chosen as the target of spot checks. ”A foreigner is always obliged to explain why he or she is in Finland. However, they do not have to carry all relevant documents with them all the time, as the facts can be checked through a computer network” reports Chief Inspector Jouko Aromäki from the Vantaa police. ”At some point we will certainly have a meeting involving the police, the Customs, and the Border Guard in order to discuss how the authorities are to cooperate in the matter”, notes Jaakko Heinilä, the head of the Investigation Unit at the Helsinki Immigration Police. ”The point of these checks is to maintain order and security in public places, with a view to the wellbeing of all citizens and residents of this country”, stresses Heinilä.

Here is important point of this publication that giving the whole story more bad smelling twist:

Typically, a foreigner without a residence permit comes from Africa or from the Middle East. Unable to present any identity card, he or she has come into Finland through another Schengen country, without facing border immigration control formalities.

Obviously, these checks will be focused mainly on non-caucasian race persons.

Read the whole article on Helsingin Sanomat:

There is a big discussion on Finland for thought blog, evoking many different points of view.

Ombudsman of Minorities Johanna Suurpää already addressed some concern about this issue on the pages of Helsingin Sanomat.

I am personally, started to think where can I buy a special purse to carry my ID…

About the photo used in this article:

Who’s there?

I sometimes feel like someone’s watching me. Seriously though, this statue is called ‘Daybreak’ and it was made by one of Finlands most prominent sculpters - Wäinö Aaltonen. It stands in front of the Bank of Finland Security Printing House, Rauhankatu 19, Kruununhaka. That’s why the security camera is there.

Uploaded by Kikeb to Nordic Design Photo pool on 26 Feb 07, 10.36PM EET.