Police officers check every day whether residents are complying with the restrictions. On Tuesday, an unusual situation occurred at one of the stores in Sulików commune (Zgorzelec County). – Police officers on duty wanted to check whether customers were complying with the restrictions. When they arrived at the store, they noticed that the security guard, who was supposed to monitor the conduct of people shopping, was not wearing a mask – reports Commissioner Agnieszka Goguł, press officer of the County Police Headquarters in Zgorzelec. – The officers wanted to establish his identity, but he became aggressive and failed to follow the orders issued to him.
What is more, he resisted and violated the bodily integrity of the officers. Spokeswoman:
The police had to use direct coercive measures. The 21-year-old resident of Zgorzelec County was detained and taken to the police headquarters in Zgorzelec, and was then referred to the justice system for assessment.
Officers:
We remind you that, when performing duties set out in law (Article 14 of the Police Act), a police officer has the right to issue orders requiring people to behave in a specified manner, within the limits necessary to perform activities such as:
- establishing identity;
- detaining people in the manner and cases specified in the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws;
- detaining persons deprived of liberty who, having been permitted by the competent authority to leave a pre-trial detention centre or prison, failed to return within the specified period;
- detaining people who clearly pose an immediate threat to human life or health, as well as to property;
- taking fingerprints or swabs from the mucous membrane of the cheeks;
- conducting a personal search, as well as inspecting the contents of luggage and checking cargo at ports and stations and on land, air and water transport;
- conducting a preventive check to protect against unlawful attacks on the life or health of people or property, or to protect against unauthorized actions resulting in a threat to life or health, or public safety and order […].
However, pursuant to Article 56a of the Code of Petty Offences: “anyone who intentionally, by failing to comply with orders requiring a specified form of conduct issued lawfully by a police or Border Guard officer, prevents or significantly obstructs the performance of official duties is subject to arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine.”
They add:
If the perpetrator violates the bodily integrity of a public official, then under Article 222 of the Criminal Code they are subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to three years.
At the same time, it should be remembered that violating the bodily integrity of a police officer does not occur only when the perpetrator strikes them, but also in cases of grabbing, pushing, spitting, tripping or pulling their hair.