Part 16: Ethnic profiling in supervision of foreign nationals
In part 16, Detective Inspector Kalle da Silva Gonçalves discusses issues related to the supervision of foreign nationals and ethnic profiling.
The prohibition of ethnic profiling means that supervisory measures may not be based to a significant extent on a person’s actual or presumed ethnic origin. Ethnic profiling always constitutes discrimination. If the supervision of foreign nationals conducted by the police is steered by a racialised idea of foreigners, persons not included in the scope of the supervisory measures are at risk of being targeted. For example, persons residing in Finland legally and Finnish nationals are not subject to the supervision of foreign nationals. Furthermore, ethnic profiling is extremely inefficient, and it undermines people’s faith in the police.
Materials supporting learning
See the slideshow by Kalle da Silva Gonçalves (pdf 1,3 MB)
Key concepts:
- ethnic profiling
- supervision of foreign nationals
- racialisation
- discrimination
Read more about the key concepts.
Reflect on the following questions:
- What is ethnic profiling?
- What is the connection between the supervision of foreign nationals and ethnic profiling?
- How can you avoid ethnic profiling in your own work?
- How do you know that your actions do not constitute ethnic profiling?
