The Authority of the Police in Society Is a Condition of Security

Aim: The main research goal was to show the level of authority enjoyed by the Police in society and what is directly related to it: the level of security felt by the inhabitants of Poland on a national scale and in the local community. Methods: The study uses the method of analysis and synthesis of the literature on the subject and the analysis of statistical data. Results: The conducted research showed that Poles feel safe in their place of residence and evaluate the work of the police positively. This is largely due to the effective actions of officers who, by acting preventively, prevent crimes and offenses from being committed and efficiently identify and arrest the perpetrators of those that have already been committed. The sense of security and the decrease in criminal activities in the place of residence have a positive impact on the image and authority of the police. Coclusion: The police currently (contrary to what some media are trying to push) enjoys the highest authority in history, which is due, among other things, to the professionalism of the people serving and working in it, their education and the highest level since 1990, i.e. since the first survey research, the level of safety recorded in the opinion of adult Poles. Authority, however, is not something given permanently, you have to take care of it so as not to lose it as a result of ill-considered decisions or actions of individual individuals. Oryginality: In the current world, where attempts are made to undermine the qualifications and trust in people and institutions widely considered authorities in their fields, it is important to remind them of their importance for society, the impact they have on its development and security, and systematically analyze what needs to be done next. improve them to improve their performance and further increase trust in them.