Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
he Samodzielny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji w Warszawie (SPKP, Independent Counter Terrorist Police Unit of Warsaw), Polish capital city Police SWAT unit was officially activated in April 2019 when the Polish Police Act was introduced. But the history of the Warsaw Police counter-terrorist unit is longer and its roots can be found in the 1970s. After fall of communism, in 1990 Polish Police was formed and the so- called Wydzial Zabezpieczenia (Security Department) of Warsaw MO (Milicja Obywatelska, Citizen's Militia, the official name of Polish People's Republic police) was renamed to Wydzial Antyterrorystyczny (WA, Anti- Terror Department). In 2003 it was transferred from Warsaw Police to Polish Police HQ recently formed CBS (Centralne Biuro Śledcze, Central Bureau of Investigation) and became the bedrock for BOA KGP – the Tier 1 Polish Police hostage rescue unit. For next dozen months, the Warsaw Police didn't have any SWAT-type assets but on 1st January 2005 the WR KSP (Executive Department of Warsaw Police) was activated. The WR KSP was formed from the disbanded Chopin Airport Police SWAT team, some members of WA and officers from IV Section of Automotive Criminal Department of Warsaw Police (so-called Gepard part-time tactical team). Another part was the EOD Section transferred from the Criminal Terror Department. In 2017, the unit was renamed to SPAP and was directly subordinated to the Chief of Warsaw Police. In the meantime, the Police HQ decided to unify the structures nationally and to make the SWAT units essentially equal to other branches such as Criminal Branch, Investigation Branch or Internal Affairs. Finally, in April 2019, SPAP teams were officially disbanded and became SPKP under the Regional Chief of Police, except the BOA (now CPKP BOA) which is directly under the Chief of Polish Police. According to Police Act, the counter-terrorism operations are defined as follows: "actions against perpetrators, persons preparing for or assisting in committing a terrorist crime, [...] carried out in order to eliminate an immediate threat to the life, health or freedom of persons or property using specialized forces and means as well as specialized tactics". The Police Act makes the Minister of Interior responsible for the above mentioned actions and points Police as responsible for execution of these operations. For a complete picture, it is worth quoting the statutory definition of anti-terrorist activities (for which the head of the ABW, the Internal Security Agency is responsible): activities of public administration bodies consisting in preventing terrorist acts, preparing to take control over them through planned activities, reacting in the event of such events and removing their effects, including restoring resources intended to respond to them. In line with above mentioned assumptions, the main task of SPKP of Warsaw is the execution of law by arresting persons suspected of planning, preparing or committing terrorist acts, hostage rescue operations, high risk arrests of armed criminals (in possession of firearms, explosives and other dangerous or hazardous materials). In Poland such operations are rare but the SPKP is busy with capturing of high-ranking criminals or suspects, convoy operations, prosecutions, VIP protection, etc. Thanks to comprehensive training, the SPKP officers can support other Police units and assets with their unique and special skills such as diving or rope-access training. Each SPKP is formed from highly skilled and well-trained police officers of above average physical and psychological condition capable of working in a high-stress environment. The Commander of SKPK of Warsaw says that in his unit there is place only for super-motivated police officers as this type of duty requires sacrifices and maximum effort during training and every day duty. According to the Commander's words, the motivation to be part of a perfectly functioning mechanism that will work properly at a critical moment is absolutely key. Perfect candidate should be around 30 years old, have some additional skills (diving, rappelling) to start his way to join the ranks of SPKP. But first, the six- month long basic course must be completed. www.fragoutmag.com