Combating Corruption Crime in Poland: Selected Legal Aspects, With Particular Reference to the Role of the Central Anticorruption Bureau

Abstract

This article highlights issues related to corruption in Poland. The definition of corruption is examined in national and international terms, for example, as developed by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) or the World Bank. This study contributes to the discussion of the scale of corruption as well as on the effectiveness of anticorruption agencies. Particular attention has been paid to one of the leading special services entites, the Central Anticorruption Bureau, which was established on 9 June 2006 to address the deepening corruption in both the economic and political life in Poland. The study also examines the role of the prosecutor’s office and the efforts to transform its organisational structure to effectively and efficiently combat crime, particularly those related to corruption. In addition, relevant statistics on the effectiveness of anticorruption measures are presented. The fundamental research problem is to understand the current scale of corruption in Poland. The main hypothesis focuses on determining whether the level of corruption has decreased or remained constant since the beginning of the socio-economic transition. This study used the detailed research method—primarily statistics (desk research). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS). The article ends with conclusions and postulates de lege futura.