Polish and German Police Special Units: a Contribution to Comparative Analysis

Abstract

In Poland and Germany, security, as part of the topics of politics and science, is gaining more and more attention in society due to terrorist attacks which can be expected anywhere and at any time. So far nobody has found a remedy to terrorism, which is a plague for present-day societies. Yet we are still waiting for it. States are trying to increase internal security and this is a priority for special police units in both Poland and Germany.
Special forces fulfilling counter-terrorism duties have the following common features: an organisational structure (created according to a special pattern: there is a combat section and a support section), a selection process (a selection of candidates to the combat section), as well as specialist equipment and weapons. Among German units is GSG9 – one of the most important anti-terrorist groups in the world. Similar duties are fulfilled by SEK (Spezialeinsatzkommando) units. GROM is the main anti-terrorist unit in Poland, and police units include the Office for Anti-Terrorism Operations (BOA KGP), the Autonomous Anti-Terrorism Policy Unit (SPAP) and the executive units of CBŚP, destined for so-called hard actions.
Their daily work involves finding and arresting armed criminals, kidnappers, mafia members, armed gangsters and freeing hostages. Special police units are, to some extent, the ultima ratio of a state which is able to defend itself. In the political and legal system, violence is subject to legal rules, enforced and sanctioned. It should serve to hold physical security and order and also raise the consciousness of societies.