The actions of two uniformed police officers photographed holding Black Lives Matter signs during an anti-racism protest in Helsinki are "problematic", according to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Helsinki officers were monitoring the protest against racism and police violence last June when the photograph was taken, leading to the ombudsman's office receiving at least three complaints filed via an internal Police Administration ethical channel.

In the ombudsman's opinion, the officers' actions could not be considered to be participation in the demonstration and their work was not unduly affected by the holding of the signs, but they were problematic due to a perceived lack of impartiality as is required of the police.

"It is incompatible with the image of police neutrality that the police officers who were supervising the demonstration have agreed to the photographs holding the signs made for the demonstration. A police officer supervising the demonstration should not take a stand for or against the demonstration, but should remain neutral," the ombudsman's statement said.

The ombudsman's decision further stated that police have a duty to oppose racism and that the police are not impartial with regard to racism, but against it. However, the office added, this does not justify a departure from the role of an impartial supervisor.

"They are in uniform, not only to ensure the exercise of freedom of assembly, but also to ensure that the organisers fulfil their obligations under the law and to take measures to maintain order and security, if necessary. It has not been enough that they have acted properly in these tasks, as it is also a question of how their actions appear to external onlookers," the decision said.

The ombudsman also noted that a police officer's freedom of conduct and expression is more limited in the line of duty than in private life.

"What is allowed in private life, such as participation in party politics, cannot always come into play in the course of duty," the decision said.