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  • Overview
  • Hate crimes - Official data
  • ODIHR's key observations
  • Hate incidents - Unofficial data
  • International reports
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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.  

Poland has implemented ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme since 2012. 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.  

Hate crime data collection in Poland
Support for hate crime victims in Poland
Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

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OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
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 2010 Data

    Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred.

Hate crime recorded by police

  • By bias motivation
  • By type of crime
Download official data
Download official data

National developments

Poland continued implementing ODIHR’s police training programme on hate crimes, training 50 individuals at the national level. Approximately 21,000 police officers at the local level were also trained in addressing hate crimes. The Ministry of Interior and Administration, together with the police, produced an auxiliary training manual on hate crimes to support the police, in collaboration with the General Prosecutor’s Officer, ODIHR and the Never Again Association, an NGO. During an expert seminar in December 2010, the Ministry of Interior and Administration delivered the results of a mapping exercise of hate crimes, including types of crimes, locations and common targets, based on information from public institutions and NGOs.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Never Again Association reported a series of anti-Semitic attacks on property, three cases of damage to property (one targeted a non-Jewish man associated with promoting Polish-Jewish relations), four cases of graffiti on property, one case of damage to a place of worship and four incidents of graffiti on places of worship. The Stephen Roth Institute reported seven hate incidents.

read more ›

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The Campaign against Homophobia (KPH) reported one physical assault during the Warsaw Independence Day parade, 31 attacks involving weapons, 103 physical assaults and 28 cases involving graffiti or destruction of property.

read more ›

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The Holy See reported three cases of damage to Church property, the desecration of a cemetery and two cases of vandalism of Christian sites.

read more ›

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Never Again Association and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights both reported one physical assault. Never Again Association reported additional incidents, including eight physical assaults, four of which involved serious bodily injury, one case of threats, two cases of graffiti on property, one case of graffiti on a place of worship, and one attack involving arson and damage to and graffiti on property. The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights reported one additional physical assault.

read more ›

Anti-Roma hate crime

The Never Again Association reported one attack by a group against a Roma family. The incident was reported to be part of a repeated series of attacks beginning in 2009.

read more ›

Developments

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Never Again Association reported that in March 2010, prison sentences ranging from 18 months to two-and-a-half years were handed down to those convicted of stealing the historic sign at the entrance gate to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In December 2010, a former member of the National Socialist Front (Nationalsocialistisk Front), a Swedish neo-Nazi organization, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for instigating the theft.

read more ›

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

In Poland and Ukraine, the Never Again Association, in conjunction with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), organized training for officials and stewards about racism and football ahead of the 2012 European football championship. The Never Again Association also prepared information booklets about monitoring football- related racist crime.

read more ›

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-Semitic hate crime

The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern about Poland’s reportedly low rate of investigation and prosecution of crimes potentially motivated by racial hatred. It also noted with concern “persistent manifestations of anti-Semitism, including physical attacks and desecration of Jewish cemeteries”.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) reported on instances of the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and widespread instances of anti-Semitic graffiti.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) noted physical attacks against Muslims in Bialystok and crimes targeting Muslim places of worship.

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) noted cases targeting Orthodox Christian and Catholic churches.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The UN Human Rights Council noted with concern reported hate crimes against LGBT people and encouraged Poland to provide effective protection against violence based on sexual orientation.

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2022 Call for Civil Society Submissions

14 Feb 2023
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2021 Hate Crime Data Now Available!

16 Nov 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Marking 15 years of reporting hate crimes

12 Apr 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Lifting up indigenous voices to counter racism and promote diversity and inclusion

01 Apr 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Delivering tools to support hate crime victims

24 Mar 2022
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2021 Call for Civil Society Submissions

16 Feb 2022
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2020 Announcement Page

2020 Hate Crime Data Now Available!

15 Nov 2021
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FAQ.png

Hate Crime Data: Frequently Asked Questions

15 Nov 2021
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Steps to Meet Hate Crime Victims' Needs

ODIHR's impact in 2020: Strengthening Support for Hate Crime Victims

16 Apr 2021
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10 practical steps to respond to the security needs of Muslim communities

ODIHR's impact in 2020: A holistic and inclusive response to anti-Muslim hate crimes

15 Apr 2021

Contact Us

Email tndinfo@odihr.pl
Tel +48 22 520 06 00
Fax +48 22 520 06 05
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department
Ul. Miodowa 10
00-251
Warsaw, Poland

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