The State of Public Security in the Reorganised Communes of the Province of Masovia After the Restoration of Police Stations

Abstract

In the article one can find an analysis of the state of security in respect of the reorganised communes of the Province of Masovia province after the restoration of the police stations. The restoration of police stations is a switch towards a creative model of Policing bringing it closer to the problems of society. It is the model of functioning of the Police based on the philosophy of community policing. Therefore, the article is also an attempt to address the question as to whether the solutions applied have proved to be effective. During the period 2010–2013 in the area of the Masovian garrison 70 police stations were decommissioned in 70 communes. As a consequence of extensive public consultations and as a result of an analysis of recommendations reported concerning reconstruction of Police structures in communes, it was decided to create 9 police stations in the years 2016–2017. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the police stations created, the data analysed referred to the number of investigated crimes, the crime detection rate, the number of police officers in the patrol service and a response time in the supervised area. The statistical data dating from 2013–2016, so from the time when in the area of aforementioned communes police stations did not exist and from the first half-year of 2017 when police stations were functioning again, have been correlated and analysed. The analyses revealed that the state of security has improved. It has been demonstrated that the structural changes implemented in the functioning of Police are very effective in the communes researched. The improvement in the statistical data is not the only positive result of the changes. The most significant improvement is the increased sense of security among the local residents who have an easier access to Police.