Polish Police Officers Acting as Mail Carriers Instead of Pursuing Criminals

Polish police officers are increasingly performing duties traditionally handled by other state bodies, such as delivering court summonses and conducting investigations for institutions like courts, prosecutors' offices, and bailiffs. Data from the National Police Headquarters reveals that in 2023 alone, officers conducted over 3.6 million interviews and determinations and delivered close to 234,000 official summonses.

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Instead of chasing criminals, we're simply acting as mail carriers.

These tasks, often assigned to community policing officers (dzielnicowi) due to their local knowledge, are officially seen as enhancing their ability to gather information and improve overall effectiveness and public safety. Asp. Karol Gruda from the National Police Headquarters explained that these duties help officers gain a better understanding of their assigned areas and the people within them, contributing positively to their work.

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We get a flood of such orders because the bailiff or prosecutor simply doesn't want to bother.

However, many rank-and-file officers express dissatisfaction with this expanded role. They feel that being used as couriers for official mail detracts from their primary responsibility of combating crime and responding to emergencies. One officer lamented, "Instead of chasing criminals, we're simply acting as mail carriers." Another incident described involved police delivering a summons to an individual's home address years after their company had moved, suggesting a lack of diligence by the requesting institution and an unnecessary burden on police resources.

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Due to the nature of the service, these tasks are particularly assigned to community policing officers, who have extensive knowledge of their assigned service area.