Waldemar Żurek Warns of Surge in Prejudice-Motivated Crimes in Poland

During a press conference, Polish officials highlighted a massive rise in prejudice-motivated crimes, prompting the creation of a specialized prosecutorial unit to tackle the escalating threat.

Surge in Prejudice-Motivated Reports

Waldemar Żurek addressed problems related to prejudices during a Wednesday press conference, pointing out an “enormous increase” in reports. The justice minister noted that out of nearly two thousand reports, only a dozen or so cases reach the court.

Specialized Prosecutor Group Formed

To solve this problem, the National Prosecutor’s Office created a group of investigators operating nationwide who will handle prejudice-motivated crimes alongside their other duties. The minister informed that the group consists of more than 100 prosecutors.

Training and Inter-Agency Scope

A presentation shared during the conference specified that since the specialization’s creation, over 250 prosecutors, judges, and assistants, more than 600 police officers, and over 200 Border Guard officers have been trained.

Results of the Team’s Work

Prosecutors have directed 258 prejudice-motivated crime cases to courts. Of these, 222 were indictments, and 36 were motions for conviction, conditional discontinuance, or protective measures.

Threats, Beatings, and Public Safety

Prejudice-motivated crimes include threats, beatings, and desecration. Waldemar Żurek stated that these types of crimes are truly becoming a social problem and could lead to tragedies on our streets, adding that this can affect anyone.