Cross-border Police Operations in Poland: A Case Study
Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the changes in the effectiveness of cross-border operations of the Polish and Czech Police forces in the area of the Opole region and the Czech frontier zone in 2015-2018. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was conducted with the document analysis method in quantitative terms (quantitative analysis of measurable information) and qualitative terms (qualitative analysis of the characteristics of facts related to the phenomena concerned). Findings: The research determined that the effectiveness of conducting joint preventive cross-border operations (in the form of international police patrols) in 2015-2018 increased. On a practical level, the findings substantiate the necessity to conduct cross-border operations and treat them as an essential factor contributing to maintaining the security and public order on both sides of the border between the cooperating States, i.e., the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic. Practical implications: The conclusions show that cross-border police cooperation is needed, even at a level of joint patrol operations, which, when planned properly, can contribute to maintaining the security and public order in frontier zones on both sides of the State border. Originality/Value: This is the first research of this kind to have been conducted.