“We must combat crime against officers even more effectively. One method will be to toughen penalties for the crime of violating an officer’s bodily integrity, active assault against an officer and insulting officers,” said Minister of the Interior and Administration Mariusz Kamiński during a press conference on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Inspector General Jarosław Szymczyk, Chief Commander of the Police, took part in the conference.
A film shown at the beginning of the conference presented events from Saturday, September 12 this year. Police officers called to an intervention in Pastuchów (Jaworzyna Śląska municipality) regarding the beating of a resident were attacked by two men. Despite the attack, the officers did not stop carrying out their duties: they arrested one of the attackers at the scene, while the other was arrested shortly afterward. Both detainees were under the influence of alcohol. After sobering up, they were charged, among other things, with active assault on officers and insulting them.
“We saw in the film how, a few days ago, a very bad and absolutely unacceptable incident occurred: the brutal beating of a female police officer and a male police officer,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. “Together with Minister Mariusz Kamiński, we have decided to significantly strengthen the safety of police officers. They should be certain that such situations cannot happen,” the head of government stressed. “We are very grateful to you and will do everything we can to make you even safer.”
Minister Mariusz Kamiński joined the prime minister in thanking all officers who perform their duties professionally, particularly the two who became the targets of the brutal attack in Pastuchów. Head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration:
There are more brutal attacks in which police officers suffer injuries or wounds. Officers often go out on what appears to be a routine intervention and encounter unimaginable aggression, including attacks with an axe or knife. These cases must be discussed openly.
When will the changes take effect?
“By the end of the month, I will present the prime minister with a draft amendment increasing penalties for crimes against officers and introducing, when a crime is established, a mandatory additional financial penalty,” Minister Mariusz Kamiński announced.
From 2015 through August 2020, the Police recorded more than 20,000 confirmed crimes involving violations of police officers’ bodily integrity and nearly 1,500 active assaults against them. During this period, more than 50,000 cases of insulting public officials were also recorded.
The provisions of the Act of August 14, 2020, on special solutions concerning support for uniformed services supervised by the minister responsible for internal affairs, which have already been adopted, will enter into force on October 1, 2020. Under the act, an officer will be entitled to free legal protection provided directly by the service if they have been harmed by a crime involving a violation of bodily integrity, active assault or insult.