Challenges in Combating Cybercrime in Poland

Introduction

Law enforcement agencies in Poland face significant challenges in combating cybercrime, particularly when it comes to handling incidents and holding perpetrators accountable. A recent training session organized by the State Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Research and Academic Computer Network aimed to identify systemic barriers that hinder effective incident handling and preparatory proceedings.

Challenges Faced by Law Enforcement

The training highlighted several key issues that hinder law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat cybercrime:

• Lack of clear responsibilities: Difficulty in determining which police unit is responsible for conducting procedural activities related to a specific incident.
• Limited expertise: Lack of specialized knowledge among police officers regarding cybercrime, including methods and techniques for securing evidence.
• Inadequate IT tools: Insufficient IT tools available to conduct preliminary stage investigations effectively and quickly.
• Overwhelming caseloads: Overload of other criminal cases handled by police units at any given time.

The Role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office

The Public Prosecutor’s Office plays a crucial role in combating cybercrime as preparatory proceedings are either conducted or supervised by public prosecutors. However, the common organizational units of the Prosecution Service lack a uniform structure dedicated to fighting cybercrime.

Regulatory Framework

In 2016, the Regulation of the Minister of Justice introduced the function of the Economic Crime Department and the Organized Crime and Corruption Department, which includes supervising and coordinating preparatory proceedings in cases involving serious crimes perpetrated via the Internet, advanced technologies, and computer systems (cybercrime).