Implementation of the Tasks of the Ombudsman as Part of the Independent Body Monitoring Inappropriate Police Actions

Police services and special services in a democratic state are geared toward providing the state and its citizens with security, i.e. protection against internal and external threats. However, one cannot forget that police activities, in their essence, significantly interfere with fundamental freedoms and human rights. The establishment of the civilian oversight is often a difficult process, with necessary factors such as political support, police cooperation, activist support, resources, management and leadership and public attitudes. The supervision of the police activities in the external system remains largely in Poland within the competence of the Commissioner for Human Rights. Commissioner for Human Rights is the constitutional authority for the legal control and protection, who safeguards human and civic freedoms and rights specified in the Constitution and other legal acts. In his/her activities, the Commissioner is integral and independent from other state authorities. The aim of this paper is to outline the general oversight of police mechanism, made by the Commissioner of Human Rights. The paper presents the reasons for the independent investigation of police complaints and for restoring confidence in the complaints system and in police. For this paper, the term oversight of police will be associated with the institutions outside the Police, which have power to control the way police departments handle complaints about the disputed police conduct.