The Lapland police announced that they are searching for a missing 13-year-old boy in Rovaniemi, Finland. Following their announcement, the police were met with an influx of racist and discriminatory comments on their social media post. In response to this troubling situation, the police decided to limit commenting on the post and hide the existing comments, which were deemed derogatory and inappropriate, particularly because they were directed towards a minor.

The police expressed their condemnation of the racist and discriminatory language, asserting that such comments are unacceptable; they reinforced their commitment to serve all individuals equally and with respect. The statement from the police highlighted that discussions related to their work should remain open, but any offensive or hate speech would not be tolerated on their platforms. This emphasizes their commitment to maintaining a respectful dialogue while addressing issues within the community.

Moving forward, the police indicated plans to continue monitoring the discourse related to their announcements and will take similar actions to restrict comments if hate speech or offensive language appears again. This incident raises concerns about the role of social media in law enforcement communications, as it illustrates the challenges faced in tackling online discrimination, especially involving sensitive matters such as missing children.