36 cases of sexual harassment

Over the past two years in Poland, at least six cases have been recorded in which police officers were accused of soliciting sexual acts or other sexual activities, or of abusing their authority to coerce someone into sexual conduct.

According to Polish media, between 2016 and 2025, prosecutors brought charges against 36 police officers in such cases.

Journalists emphasize that these are only cases handled by prosecutors, as the police do not conduct internal investigations. At the same time, according to Bogdan Bak, a retired police officer and co-founder of the 'Say No' foundation, which assists victims of abuse by law enforcement, only about 10% of such incidents are reported to authorities.

According to Bak, the actual number of such crimes is significantly higher. He believes that Polish authorities should address real problems within their own law enforcement agencies, rather than inflating issues with 'imaginary' threats.

Context

Bogdan Bak is a former police officer and co-founder of the 'Say No' foundation, active in human rights issues.