Rzeczpospolita: We will be safe at stadiums

In an interview for "Rzeczpospolita" Władysław Stasiak, the head of the National Security Office (BBN), spoke about the requirements of the security system during EURO 2012.

At the beginning of the interview Stasiak stressed that today’s level of security in Poland is better than in the 1990ties although he admitted that much still remains to be done. First steps have been already taken.

- The amended act on security of mass event is now considered by the Senate – said the head of BBN. – We have a lot of experience from the organization of pope’s pilgrimages. Our counterparts from Germany, who asked for our help in the organization and security of the world football championships in 2006, acknowledged this.

Stasiak pointed attention to the fact that although Poland’s membership in NATO and the European Union gives us security, we must at the same time be able to assess vulnerabilities and our weaknesses on our own. This purpose is served, amongst others, by exercises checking state’s preparedness to operate in a crisis. As Stasiak stressed, the success of almost all exercises held in the past was assumed in advance. Everything was in perfect order, no errors were indicated, nothing that might be improved. Exercises revealing any problems were dismissed as failed ones.

- We must change the awareness of the people who are professionally concerned with security. Many of them associate prevention of threats mainly with archaic gas masks of the "trunk" type and a notice board – Stasiak said.

The BBN head listed major changes that must be introduced in Poland. He spoke about the need for good legal regulations, i.e. the act on crisis management, which would provide voivodes with instruments of action. It is also necessary to build an integrated management system encompassing e.g. information circulation and coordination of the activities of various services. We also need to establish a database on stadium hooligans.

Stasiak added that works are underway on a new training concept (e.g. for civil servants), which would simplify the decision-making procedures. In the conclusion Stasiak spoke about the necessity to take care of high morale of police officers and soldiers.

- In two forthcoming years we must effectively implement a program for modernization of the Police, Border Guard, State Firefighting Service and BOR (Government Protection Office). The act envisaged for that purpose over PLN 6 billion. This is really a lot. In three years average salaries of police officers should be PLN 700 higher than now. Also their working conditions, which they complain a lot about now, must change. We must show them a clear career track; change the criteria of recruitment for the Police and other services. Let us stress pragmatism and effectiveness.

Source: "In 2012 we will be safe at stadiums", Jarosław Olechowski, Grzegorz Praczyk, "Rzeczpospolita", 22nd May 2007