The devices were purchased in November. “Working at MOPS can be dangerous. People come to us under the influence of alcohol, frustrated and nervous,” explains Małgorzata Dłużyk, director of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Bolesławiec. – “We cannot afford to install monitoring or hire security guards. So we decided to buy stun guns.” The devices have already arrived at the centre, but for formal reasons the women will not receive them until January. Until then, they are to undergo training under the supervision of police officers.
Not all MOPS clients realise that assaulting a public official carries criminal liability. In March this year, we reported that a 48-year-old man attacked a centre employee, shouting that he would kill her. He flew into a rage because the woman offered him assistance in the form of vouchers, while he wanted money. The attacker was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for five years. After the incident, the centre’s employees asked the director to take steps to ensure their safety.
The MOPS employs 19 social workers—all women. Following consultations with the police, the women decided to purchase nine stun guns. “These devices are safe and do not require a permit. Any citizen can buy them,” says Małgorzata Dłużyk. What is more, they can be used in two ways, as they have a built-in gas sprayer.
“As a rule, the employees are treated with respect,” the centre’s director emphasises. She adds that assaults on social workers occur once a year. Despite this, the women cannot always feel safe. When they visit a difficult client, they are accompanied by the police or municipal guards. “Cooperation with the uniformed services is very good,” says Małgorzata Dłużyk.
“It is demanding and difficult work,” admits the director of the Bolesławiec MOPS. “But at the same time, it is rewarding, especially when you see that you can help an entire family or a particular person. That is gratifying,” she adds.
(GA report)