Witnesses to Provide Expanded Personal Data Under New Government Regulations

The Polish government has approved amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, requiring witnesses to provide PESEL numbers, phone numbers, and email addresses during testimony to streamline judicial proceedings and identification.

Expanding Witness Data Collection

The government has adopted a draft amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Act on Electronic Delivery. The new regulation expands the catalog of data collected from witnesses to include their PESEL number, phone number, and email address.

The Ministry of Justice stated that the project aims to improve the efficiency of criminal proceedings and modernize forensic practices. The changes are intended to align current legislation with contemporary technical standards and forensic knowledge.

Streamlining Judicial Identification

Witnesses will now provide additional information required for the effective conduct of proceedings. If a witness does not possess a PESEL number, they must provide the name and number of their identification document, along with the details of the issuing authority.

The inclusion of phone numbers and email addresses is designed to simplify communication regarding procedural schedules. Furthermore, the mandatory PESEL number will allow for the rapid and unambiguous identification of individuals, facilitating easier access to necessary evidence, such as medical records or official documents.

Privacy Protections for Sensitive Data

The government has assured that this new data will be subject to heightened protection. Sensitive information such as the PESEL number and identity document details will be excluded from the investigation records made available to parties in the case.

Instead, this data will be stored in a separate attachment accessible only to the authority conducting the investigation. The Ministry of Justice asserts that this measure will strengthen the privacy of witnesses and victims while reducing the risk of unauthorized disclosure.

Current Standards for Witness Testimony

Under existing regulations, testimony currently requires recording the witness’s full name, age, occupation, prior convictions for perjury or false accusation, and their relationship to the parties involved. Investigators also document the witness’s place of residence.

The new provisions are scheduled to enter into force 14 days after their official publication in the Journal of Laws.