Police starting to serve eviction notices to Roma camps in Helsinki
Makeshift tents and laundry hung to dry on trees near the car park of Finlandia Hall had to leave, along with 32 foreign Roma who had set up camp there, when police evicted the group on Monday.
Police patrols have served eviction notices on a weekly basis to camps of itinerant Roma around the city at the request of the Public Works Department of the City of Helsinki. Printed notices have been handed out at dozens of unauthorised camps around the Finnish capital.
“Generally the campers have left voluntarily. We have told them how things are, and urged them to find a location that is appropriate for camping”, says Mika Pöyry of the Helsinki Police.
“Last week there was a community of 50 tents in Arabianranta, which left after being given an eviction notice. We have not had to use any force.”
