The National Police Headquarters disclosed information on the state witness protection programme

According to the records of the Poland’s National Police Headquarters (KGP) currently 86 state witnesses and 139 witnesses’ close relatives are covered by the state witness protection programme. The KGP also informs the public of the costs of operating the State Witness Programme Management Unit, which amount to PLN 11,039,000 in officers’ salaries and PLN  901,000 in civilian personnel costs.It should be noted that in March 2011 the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw allowed the appeal of the HFHR against a decision of the Chief Commissioner of the Police. In the appealed decision the KGP refused to disclose information on the costs of operating the state witness protection programme. The KGP claimed that this issue is subject to the classified order issued by the Minister of Interior and Administration.

In March this year the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw allowed the HFHR appeal and revoked the two refusals of the KGP. In the verbal reasons for this judgement the Court suggested explicitly that the ministerial decision lacked legal grounds.

The data was published in the implementation of the March Court’s judgement. Still, what the KGP failed to reveal is how much is spent to cover the living costs of a single witness.