Making Gdańsk safer

Last survey carried out by Eurotest shows that almost 98% tourist visiting Gdańsk feel safe. Gdańsk is one of the most visited cities in Poland. A thousand year history and geographical location make it charming, unique and crowded in the high season.

Since 2003, the City Council has been monitoring tourist satisfaction. Every year the survey report brings figures on visitors sense of security. In the last seven years that indicator has been increasing from 73,5% in 2004 to 97,9% in 2010. According to the polls, most tourists perceive leisure in Gdańsk as a time free of any threats and dangers.

Two law enforcement agencies-the National Police (NP) and Municipal Guard (MG) have been committed to ensure safety for tourists visiting the city. Municipal Guard's main function is to maintain the local safety and public order. Although MG officers undertake actions against minor offences, they are not allowed to proceed with the crimes.

The police current resources are approximately 1150 people, located in 9 police stations in Gdańsk. The total number of police cars is 160, both marked and unmarked. The 6 Sections of MG which are placed in the main districts of the city consist of 240 officers. They are equipped with 23 response cars, 4 motorcycles, 13 mopeds and 3 watercrafts. They react on about 300 incidents daily. A substantial part of the security system in Gdańsk is CCTV surveillance. This is an example of cooperation between two forces: MG observes the situation and then alerts the police in case of a law violation. The police reacts to all incidents notified by MG. CCTV is under constant extension, currently made of 164 cameras recording 24 h/day. On the whole, CCTV network protects from danger, but also several hundred occurrences are revealed monthly and successfully accomplished.

The peak of the tourist season in summer is the busiest period for MG. Two most neuralgic places are the Main Town and the seafront. During that season the number of patrolling units in those areas is doubled. At the end of July the Main Town is hosting Saint Dominic Fair - one of the biggest trade and cultural open-air events in Europe.The primary goal is to keep public order, as well as protect the visitors life and their belongings.

In the next few months Gdańsk will be completing big investments: 44-thousands football stadium, Second World War Museum, European Solidarity Centre and Shakespeare's Theatre. All these projects will attract even more people. It seems that the biggest challenge for the law enforcement agencies will be to smoothly maintain the city without any disturbance to inhabitants. And, last but not least, to make sure that both -citizens and visitors - are safe.