The Message of the Former Chief Commander of the Polish Police Marek Bieńkowski to Symposium Participants

       The Polish Police is undergoing a thorough transformation. A generation change has been made. Police structures have been reorganised. Tasks have been updated to match present needs. Extensive international co-operation has been developed. The Police enjoys the highest level of public trust for many years. We are entering a new stage of improvement: the Police modernisation stage.

       Modernisation has two centres of gravity: perfecting the qualifications of police officers and the methods of police services management, and making a breakthrough in providing the police structures with advanced technology and police officers with advanced equipment. The Police needs equipment based on the latest technologies to support crime abatement and strengthen the safety and efficiency of its officers’ operation.

       As part of the implementation of the Act on Police Modernisation 2007-2009, 8,000 vehicles of various types will be purchased, a police air force will be developed, all the uniforms will be replaced, state-of-the-art arms and special technology will be purchased, about 300 building investments will commence, while 600 buildings will undergo general overhauls and refurbishment. Bringing the Polish Police up to the standards of the 21st century and cross-border co-operation within the European Union structures at the same time requires introducing up-to-date communications means and IT systems relevant to the goals which the Police is facing.

       Performing the above tasks requires developing clear, transparent and honest principles in the relations between the Police representatives on the one hand, and service providers and product suppliers on the other. That is why the Symposium on The Principles of the 2007-2009 Three-year Upgrade Plan for the Police, the Border Guard (SG), the State Fire Brigade (PSP) and the Government Protection Bureau (BOR) scheduled for April 20, 2007, as part of the International Fair of Technology and Equipment for the Police and National Security Services, will take up a number of vital issues which are of key importance to the upgrade process.

       I wish those of you who will participate in the Fair and Symposium success in all your projects and I invite you to take part in the Polish Police upgrade process.