Poland

Poland regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Several public bodies are involved in monitoring and/or collecting data on hate crimes, primarily the police and the Prosecutor's Office. Hate crime data are regularly published.

There is a high degree of hate crime specialization in both police and prosecutor structures. More than 100 specialist hate crime prosecutors have been appointed, and a network of hate crime co-ordinators was established in the police in 2014. In 2015, following a request by the lower house of parliament, ODIHR provided a legislative review of proposed changes to the Criminal Code of Poland, including on hate crime provisions.

In 2023, Polish police participated in a three-day train-the-trainer workshop as part of ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE). In 2018, the Ministry of the Interior, ODIHR and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency co-organized a workshop on understanding and improving hate crime recording and data collection based on ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT) programme. In 2019, ODIHR co-operated with the Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland to issue a report on the nature and scale of unreported hate crimes against members of selected communities in Poland.

A draft bill is being developed to amend the Penal Code to strengthen criminal law protection against criminal discriminatory grounds for conduct on the basis of disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. 

Hate crime data collection in Poland
Support for hate crime victims in Poland
Hate crime capacity building in Poland
Poland's hate crime legislation
Download the 2023 hate crime report for Poland

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2023 893 386 296
2022 1,180 440 312
2021 997 466 339
2020 826 374 266
2019 972 432 597
2018 1117 397 315
2017 886 320 260
2016 874 281 236
2015 263 229 195
2014 778 179 127
2013 757 116 53
2012 266 76 39
2011 222 43 24
2010 251 30 28
2009 194 29 27

About 2023 Data

    The police records represent the number of proceedings initiated by police for hate crimes cases in 2023, including proceedings that were later discontinued owing to a lack of evidence.
    The records on prosecuted hate crimes includes cases that culminated in a bill of indictment, submissions to courts based on a guilty plea, submissions to courts for the conditional discharge of a penalty, and submissions to courts to discontinue proceedings owing to the perpetrator's reduced culpability on mental health grounds. For 2023, prosecuted figures consist of 132 cases of physical assault or unlawful threat (art. 119 § 1 of the Penal Code), 149 cases of insult of a group or a person (art. 257 of the Penal Code), and 53 cases of incitement to hatred (art. 256 § 1 of the Penal Code).
    The records on sentenced hate crimes represent the number of persons convicted in the first instance before district and regional courts.

    All records include cases of discrimination and hate speech, which fall outside the OSCE's definition of hate crime.

Hate crime recorded by police

The numbers presented here refer to police investigations that were initiated as hate crimes. Offences that fall outside the OSCE's definition of hate crime were excluded. These data also include hate crimes committed with multiple bias motivations.

National developments

Poland is developing a draft bill amending the Penal Code that aims to strengthen criminal law protection against criminal discriminatory grounds for conduct on the basis of the disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Legislative work on the bill is complete, and the text has been consulted with the public. On 24 May 2024, a request was submitted for the draft bill to be considered by the Council of Ministers, with adoption of the bill planned soon after.

In 2023, the Police officers from the Criminal Bureau of the Police Heaquarters participated in workshops on anti-Semitism and hate speech held at the POLIN Museum, as well as on the professional ethics of Police officers.

In October 2023, police officers in Poznań were trained on anti-Semitism and combating hate crime. The training event was held at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Poznań with the participation of the Plenipotentiary of the Police Commander-in-Chief for Human Rights Protection and a representative of the POLIN Museum.

In December 2023, Polish police participated in a three-day train-the-trainer workshop as part of ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE). The workshop trained participants to recognize and work with hate crime cases and hate crime victims, with the aim of equipping a cohort of police trainers to cascade the TAHCLE programme to police forces across Poland.

In 2023, the National School organized a training on Combating Crimes Related to Hate Speech Committed via the Internet". The training covered the following: the scale, dynamics and specifics of online crimes related to hate speech; identifying perpetrators of online hate speech; the problem of identity theft and impersonation online; hate speech as an element of criminalized acts and freedom of speech; national and international jurisprudence; and technical and legal aspects of obtaining evidence from internet service providers, social media companies, and information portal administrators.

In 2023 and 2024, a co-operation agreement was implemented between the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the Commander-in-Chief of the Police, as part of the 'Comprehensive programme to research and combat antisemitism in Poland'.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Poland's efforts to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement to address hate crimes. However, based on the available information, it observes that Poland's hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Poland would benefit from further raising awareness among and building the capacity of prosecutors on hate crime.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States have agreed to a common definition of hate crime and committed to collecting reliable data and statistics on hate crimes. To that end, hate crimes need to be distinguished throughout the recording and data collection process from discrimination and other crimes. Participating States have also committed to introduce or further develop professional training and capacity-building activities for law enforcement, prosecution and judicial officials dealing with hate crimes.

ODIHR stands ready to support Poland in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as through its resources and tailored capacity-building assistance for police, prosecution, and judiciary.

Our methodology

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-10 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-09 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-03 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-10 Violent attacks against people
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-12 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
"Never Again" Association
 Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
OIDAC
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
"Pro Futuro Theologiae" Foundation
Ordo Iuris Institute
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info

Disability hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-12 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
Jewish Association CZULENT
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
"Never Again" Association
 Show info
2023-03 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
The Gdańsk Centre for Equal Treatment
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.