“European police”? Which means the patch on the uniform

“Are you still @Polskapolja? Or European?” – asks in post From June 29, Marek Jakubiak, MP from the Free Republicans Circle. A photo joined the entry. We see two policemen on it – one stands back, the other sideways, his face is anonymized. Both have forages, short -sleeved T -shirts and tactical vests. On the shoulder of one of them, above the inscription “Police” is a large, round patch – a European flag, or 12 gold stars on a blue background. It was this patch on the officer's uniform that the politician stuck.

She also outraged Internet users commenting on the MP's entry. “What is this costume?”; “There is no European state, so changing the uniform @polskapolice is unlawful, it is an abuse”; “Traitors are not the police. And our taxes go to such?”; “Question … are these authentic Poles?”; “What 'manager' 'Slątb, such police” – they wrote (the spelling of all posts original). Jakubiak's post generated over 400,000 views.

He did not share this photo. Anonymous Internet users did it. They duplicated a copy of a photo on which the policeman's face is not blurred. “Only eight stars on the hat are missing. What is this supposed to be? Is this a uniform of a Polish policeman or an EU clown?” – wrote the author entry With photography of a policeman's uniform, which has been displayed over 200,000 times.

“Is this a Polish policeman or a European Gestapo?”; “This is no longer Polish police ???? instead of a flag some shit in a circle ??? Srtoj the policeman defines the act !!!!!! shock”; “This is @polskapolja? This is a Polish policeman's uniform? Hanged, it is not known what because it is neither the Polish flag nor the badge … Why Qrva some converted logo of the organization of craftsmen and seater -confusers mixing in the governance in sovereign states is on the uniform?!” – indignant myself other Internet userswho spread the photo on X.

Internet users pointed out that the appearance of Polish policemen's uniforms define specific regulations. In their opinion, the wearing of an EU flag by a policeman is contradictory to them. We explain, so what is the EU flag on the policeman's sleeve from the photo. It is not about any “European police” as Jakubiak claims.

The rules for officers' clothing are strictly defined by law. According to Act on the Police of April 6, 1990, police officers are determined by the Minister of the Interior. In art. 12 We read:

It applies anyway ordinance Interior Minister of 2009, which is devoted to the uniforms of policemen. This regulation has been changed several times, the last changes of the interior minister introduced at the end of 2024.

The regulation results exactly how an officer should be dressed in a given situation and what are the applicable identification elements of the policeman. The regulation also defines the principles and the method of wearing uniforms as well as orders, decorations, medals and badges. There was also a provision that the policemen are forbidden to: – Wearing uniform items contrary to the applicable set of uniform objects or contrary to their intended use; – wearing objects of units of unsightly appearance or a significant extent of their wear; – wearing uniforms in combination with civil clothing items; – arbitrary alteration, corrections and distortion of uniform objects.

But a policeman with a European flag patch from the photo did not commit independent modifications of uniforms. Because it is a meaning that a given officer took part in the EULEX mission in Kosovo. Poland in Eulex has been involved for several years.

EULEX, i.e. the mission of the European Union in Kosovo, was created on the basis of document Council of the European Union in 2008. On the basis of a resolution of the Council of Ministers of December 12, 2008, as part of this mission, it created and sent to service in Kosovo Police Contingent of the European Union mission. This consists of two units: a special Polish police unit (JSPP) and an expert group. Purpose This police operation is “developing and strengthening multi -ethnic police services and to support local bodies responsible for ensuring compliance with law, security and public order in Kosovo.”

Currently in Kosovo serves XXXVII JSPP rotation, which began on December 9, 2024. It consists of 105 officers.

The uniforms of policemen who served as part of EULEX and a patch creating part of this uniform can be seen in many photos published, e.g. from the awarding of decorations to those officers. Such publishes, among others Of the Ministry of Interior and AdministrationWhether Police. The same officers are also wearing markings with the symbol of the Polish eagle.

Marek Jakubiak, arguing with Internet users in the comments under his entry, claims that “the regulations prohibit wearing symbols of others outside of Polish” and that policemen on missions can wear “what they want”, but being in Poland “is a non -regulatory badge”. In the ordinance of the Minister of the Interior regarding the uniforms of police officers in paragraph 28, the identification marks of a policeman were listed. These are: 1. Sign of individual identification; 2. Name identification sign; 3. Sign of the type of police service; 4. The inscription “Police”; 5. Sign of the Police Corps; 6. A sign of state affiliation.

In the regulation and attachments, it was specified in what markings they are about. These include A plaque with a name and surname, a metal plate with a policeman identification number or an embroidered image of an eagle. Among them, the patch with the European flag was not mentioned. So we asked the police or Jakubiak's reservations about have grounds and whether officers patch with the European flag can also wear outside the mission.

In response, another provision of the aforementioned regulation was cited: “The cited legal act clearly defines the principles and the method of carrying uniforms and identification marks by policemen. The regulation allows, among others (pursuant to § 35) the possibility for uniformed policemen to wear specialist markings (i.e. professional specialty markings). These legal acts do not provide for use on the uniforms Of the Republic of Poland, other markings than those indicated in the regulations. ” This provision allows policemen to wear sunglasses, a symbol of mourning and “specialist markings (professional specialties)”.

We asked the Police Headquarters or a patch with the EU flag, which is a symbol of participation in the EULEX mission, should be treated in this way. We did not receive an answer until the publication of the article. We will supplement the text with it, immediately after receiving the answer from the police.