Legal Status of Polish Police Officers Seconded to International Police Structures on the Example of INTERPOL and Europol
Legal Status of Polish Police Officers Seconded to International Police Structures on the Example of INTERPOL and Europol

Summary/Abstract: Cooperation with police forces of other countries and their international organisations as well as with bodies andinstitutions of the EU is the statutory task of the Polish Police, and simultaneously one of its priorities. Active participation of thePolish Police in international police structures is manifested by seconding its representatives to them. Representatives to INTERPOLand Europol play a special role in this respect. The legal situation of Polish Police officers serving in the structures of theseorganisations is regulated by both national and international law, and in the case of Europol – also by EU law. In the light of legalregulations currently in force, the legal status of Polish Police officers seconded to INTERPOL and Europol is not homogeneous,and the main difference results from the fact that persons serving in the INTERPOL General Secretariat are obliged to maintainfar-reaching impartiality and act only in the interest of this organisation, while officers operating in the Polish Liaison Officeat Europol (PLOE) may receive instructions from Polish services in the field of tasks they perform. However, despite the differences,there are also some common elements for the officers seconded both to the INTERPOL General Secretariat and to the PLOE, suchas the privileges and immunities necessary for such type of positions. Undoubtedly, another common element is the fact thatthey operate in the structures of entities that currently constitute the pillars of international cooperation of the Polish Police,significantly affecting the effectiveness of tasks performed by it

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