The Ministry of the Interior and Administration is responsible for the protection of public safety and order, including tasks related to crime prevention. Preventive measures undertaken in this area consist primarily in developing relevant programmes. The Ministry of the Interior and Administration also cooperates with institutions and organisations dealing with various aspects of crime prevention at national and international level. Within the framework of international cooperation at the EU level, the Ministry coordinates Poland’s participation in the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN).

Through EUCPN, Member States exchange information and experience on crime prevention. The network also provides access to good practices and legislative solutions, including prevention projects in other Member States. EUCPN also provides opportunities to present and share Polish preventive solutions and projects at the international level, through the Polish National Representative to EUCPN, the EUCPN website and participation in the annual good practices conference.

The achievements of EUCPN member countries are particularly useful for entities dealing with prevention, in particular competent governmental authorities, law enforcement authorities, local authorities as well as specialised associations and organisations.

EUCPN’s objective and tasks include:

Objective:

The EUCPN contributes to the development of various aspects of crime prevention at the European Union level and supports crime prevention activities at national and local level.

Tasks:

• To promote crime prevention activities in Member States;
• To facilitate cooperation, contacts and exchange of information and experience between entities involved in crime prevention;
• To accumulate and communicate information on good practices in crime prevention;
• To organise conferences (including in connection with the annual European Crime Prevention Award – ECPA).

Structure and composition

The EUCPN is headed by a Board of National Representatives and their Deputies, from among whom an Executive Committee is selected, supported by the Secretariat. The Chair rotates every six months according to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Each Member State can decide on one National Representative and one Substitute which they send to the meetings of the Network held twice a year.

Legal basis for the activities of EUCPN and Poland’s participation

The European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) was established by a Council Decision of 30 November 2009. It is the successor to the European Crime Prevention Network set up in 2001.

The EUCPN is composed of EU Member States with the exception of the UK (it left the Network on 1 December 2014).

EUCPN is an expert group of the European Commission.

Since joining the European Union, Poland has participated in the work of the EUCPN through its National Representatives and their Deputies, appointed in the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the General Police Headquarters, respectively. Coordination of activities related to Poland’s participation in the EUCPN is currently the responsibility of the Department for Public Order of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. The function of the National Representative to the European Crime Prevention Network is performed by Ms Ilona Idzikowska, Head of the Terrorism, Organised Crime and Organisation of State Protection Service Unit of the Department for Public Order of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (tel.: 22 60 118 81; e-mail: ilona.idzikowska@mswia.gov.pl), and the Deputy function by Ms Aleksandra Borucka, Expert of the Social Prevention Department of the Prevention Bureau of the General Police Headquarters.