Local Government and State Police in Second Republic of Poland

Bibliogr. s. 138-140. Recenzent: prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Ostasz

In the initial period of reborn Polish statehood, mainly atomized local self-government services (such as municipal police, city militias, municipal guards, gendarmerie and civic guards) were responsible for maintaining security and public order. To a large extent, the later State Police was also based on them. Hence the most important principle was the executive function of the State Police, consisting in subordinating it to the general government of the state, including local and self-governmental administration. In the case of security and public order services, the State Police superiors were general administration bodies, ie the head of the province (province governor), government commissioner, head of the county (district) administration, municipal officials and magistrates in cities functioning as separate districts. Besides, the State Police performed an executive role for the courts and the prosecutors. As far the internal police matters are concerned the State Police was almost fully autonomous. This was different than in the external service. If it was not full autonomy it was only in the sense that police superiors were responsible to manage the police forces according to the recommendations and directives form their civil superiors (authorities from the general state administration and local government. Therefore, until 1928, the State Police was also referred to as the executive body of the government and self-government administration authorities. As a result, they often burdened the State Police with numerous matters that had little to do with the actual police tasks. In agreement with the legal regulations, the State Treasury was to bear the costs or the maintenance of the State Police. However up till 1928 the self-government organs would reimburse the state with 25 % of the costs. From 1928 full costs were covered from the State budget. Nevertheless, at the local level, in principle, the headquarters of permanent police stations were in accordance with the applicable provisions of the seat of municipal authorities.