In 2018, the Railway Protection Guard recorded 8,075 incidents in railway areas. This was 9% fewer than in the previous year. The declining crime rate in railway areas has been observed continuously since 2011. Since then, the number of incidents threatening safety has fallen by nearly 50%.
In 2018, Railway Protection Guard officers apprehended 1,700 perpetrators of theft, vandalism and hooliganism and recovered railway property worth a total of PLN 123,600. In total, nearly 3,000 perpetrators of crimes and offences on the railway were apprehended.
Inspections of scrap-metal collection points are an important tool in preventing infrastructure theft. In 2018, Railway Protection Guard officers carried out more than 18,000 such inspections.
What equipment do Railway Protection Guard officers use?
During field operations, Railway Protection Guard officers use night-vision and thermal-imaging goggles, while official off-road vehicles provide the necessary mobility. Mobile Monitoring Centres, camera traps, duty-service applications and patrol geolocation enable the rapid flow of information and an immediate response to incidents.
In 2018, the Railway Protection Guard spent more than PLN 7,000,000 on equipment, including 30 new official vehicles, 270 camera traps and more than 800 pieces of new service weaponry.
How is the service developing?
The service develops through continuous training and professional development. The SOK Professional Training Centre in Zbąszyń, with a branch in Przemyśl, plays a special role in this area.
In 2018, SOK Headquarters organized 200 courses and training sessions. More than 200 recruits completed the three-month preparatory training and began service in the Railway Protection Guard in 2018. Each of the more than 3,000 SOK officers continually improves their professional qualifications by taking part in training an average of two to three times a year.
Moreover, as part of its cooperation with other uniformed services, including the military, police and Border Guard, the Railway Protection Guard actively participated in 2018 in exercises to improve procedures for crisis situations.
During exercises such as KOLEJ 18 and ANAKONDA 18, SOK officers improved their skills in evacuating passengers from a station or train, providing first aid to injured people and conducting search operations in coordination with various entities responsible for safety in railway areas.
How old is SOK?
SOK is an armed and uniformed formation specializing in protecting life, health and property in railway areas; in 2018, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. The service was established by the then Chief of State, Józef Piłsudski, on 18 November 1918, one week after Poland regained independence.
Marcin Żywiołek, spokesperson for SOK Headquarters:
The present-day Railway Protection Guard is a dynamically developing formation—the service has undergone a generational change, the level of training has improved, and modern technical equipment has been acquired. Crime on the railway is declining, and passengers know they can rely on the professionalism of SOK officers.
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