Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that Poles are well aware of the demanding nature of service in the police force.

“Being a police officer means that you need to be ready to take risks, sometimes extreme ones. You have to be ready to risk your health and life to help others, and in many cases this is thankless work. . . .On the other hand, all Poles are well aware that they owe you the feeling of safety in their everyday lives. . . .You have joined the police force, because you are driven by the sense of commitment,”

said the Prime Minister to the police officers.

24 July is the Police Day. This year, we celebrated the 105th anniversary of its establishment.

The notion of rule of law is empty without a police force. In order for citizens to feel safe, comprehensive laws need to be enforced by a strong police force and competent officers.

“A strong, efficient, well-prepared and decent police force guarantees the rights, freedom, and security of all Poles. . . .Your independence is absolutely crucial. When you are on duty, no politician can give you an order. In fact, the opposite is true. . . .Whenever you are upholding the law, you need to act with determination and confidence,”

the Prime Minister pointed out.

As he noted, Poles dream of making Poland the safest country in Europe and one of the safest in the world.

Ensuring safety requires good equipment and decent working conditions. That is why the government has allocated more funds for the police force in the 2024 budget, marking the first raise in years, with over 18 billion PLN earmarked for expenses pertaining to policing - over 31% more than the amount allocated to the force in the 2023 budget. 

These are not all the changes. During the Police Day, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the allocation of an additional billion PLN for policing in next year's budget.

“I am deeply convinced that you will find good uses for these funds and ensure the safety of Poland and the Poles,”

the Prime Minister noted.

The additional funding is intended for equipment and logistics of the police force.

Organised groups are currently operating on the Polish border with Belarus, controlled by Belarus and Russia. Some of them are equipped with objects that may pose a threat to health and life. That is why approximately 360 police officers hailing from all regions of Poland have been deployed to the border, representing mainly prevention forces.

“There have been several positive developments at the border since the military and the Border Guard were joined by the police forces. The results are great. . . .As recently as May there were 7,000 border crossing attempts, with nearly 4,000 in June and only 800 in July. . . .As far as the border is concerned, Poland is safer thanks to your efforts,”

said the Prime Minister to the police officers.

As of 16 July, the police have trained a total of 13,000 soldiers and border guard officers.

As of today, there are more than 93,000 officers serving in the police force. 2,600 people have been accepted until July this year, which marks an increase compared to 2,100 officers joining the force in the same period in 2023.

In order to further improve the staffing situation, the Council of Ministers adopted a draft law, which envisages increasing the efficiency of approval process for service in the police and the Border Guard. The aim of the law is to open up new opportunities to recruit as many candidates as possible matching the relevant profile, who can rise to the challenge.

The new laws also apply to former officers who have decided to rejoin the Police and the Border Guard. A separate approval process will also be introduced for graduates of uniformed personnel schools.