KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN POLAND – Unofficial ‘anti-migrant’ street patrols: Please be aware that only the Police & Border Guard have legal authority to detain, question you or demand documents.
If you’re a foreigner living in, working in, or visiting Poland, you may encounter self-styled vigilante “citizen patrols” — groups such as; Ruch Obrony Granic (ROG) (Border Defence Movement), Ruch Obrony Polaków (ROP) (Movement for the defence of Poles), Bronimy Polskiej Granicy (BPG) (We Defend the Polish Border), Polska Narodowa Straż ‘Kamracka’ (Polish National Guard of arms), Patrol Obywatelski Konfederacji (Confederation Citizens’ Patrol) and others.
(I can’t help thinking of the famous Monty Python sketch of the variations of the People’s Front of Judean, Judean Peoples Front, Popular Front of Judea ;-))
These vigilante groups have been confronting people, stopping vehicles, demanding ID, and questioning people they believe to be migrants, particularly near the German and Belarusian borders and in some cities, around main thoroughfares and transport hubs.
These groups are NOT law enforcement. They have no legal power to check your documents, detain you, search your vehicle, or question you.
Under Polish law, only two bodies can lawfully do that:
Policja Straż Graniczna — Border Guard, for border and immigration matters.
Police uniforms are mostly dark blue, sometimes black, with varying types of cap, and the word POLICJA, SG uniform can look more paramilitary, either khaki green, combat DPM, or black. Police and SG can and do operate in plain clothes, but must show ID.
Sample Police and SG Identification cards & Uniforms
Anyone else claiming this authority is acting unlawfully, regardless of what they call themselves.
These groups claim to be protecting the Polish nation, its culture, heritage, religion, borders, women and children against immigration, particularly of the non-white, non-Christian kind.
They’re nothing short of a kind of right-wing ‘dads army’, vigilante militias akin to the black shirts and brown shirts of the 30’s, often consisting of out-of-season football thugs and right-wing bigots., who are often, mostly?, racist.
They present as official, in black or green paramilitary quasi-official-looking uniforms, even with PPE, kit belts, and badges resembling official uniforms.
They patrol on foot, in packs, as cowards and thugs do, or in ‘marked’ vehicles. There are, of course, political affiliations with right-wing politicians, parties, and groups in Poland.
Since spring 2025, groups led by activist Robert Bąkiewicz have organised patrols along the German border, at times blocking roads, filming and confronting officers, and clashing with police.
Following a few high-profile incidents, self-declared patrols also appeared in some towns and cities.
Polish and International Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have warned that private individuals carrying out ID checks or vehicle searches are illegal, as these powers are reserved for authorised officials.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that border security is the government’s responsibility, not that of activists, and warned that impersonating or obstructing officials can lead to fines or detention. In some areas, the Prosecutor is taking action.
This is an ongoing situation, and sadly, not unique to Poland; such patrols have also been cropping up in the UK, though less organised.
- You are not legally required to show ID or answer their questions.
- DO NOT hand over your ID or other documents
- Stay calm, don’t engage physically, and try to move toward a public/well-lit area.
- Call 112 (or 997) and report it to the real police.
- If safe to do so, film or note details (location, time, description).
- Ośrodek Monitorowania Zachowań Rasistowskich i Ksenofobicznych (Centre for Monitoring Racist and Xenophobic Behaviour) are particularly active in challenging xenophobia. – omzrik.pl
- Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (Polish Ombudsman) — bip.brpo.gov.pl
- Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR Poland) — hfhr.pl
- Amnesty International Poland — amnesty.org.pl
- The Foreigners Information Point in Kraków offer free legal advice.
Stay safe, know your rights, and remember: real Polish authorities mostly wear identifiable uniforms, though they can also be in plain clothes, and carry official ID that they must show on request.
Read More
Polish Police investigate ant-migrant patrols – TVPWorld
Polish PM hits out at right-wing ‘militias’ on German border – TVPWorld
Polish ‘citizen patrols’ – Notes from Poland
A Scot in Kraków. The founder and editor of Kraków Expats Directory, and our sister sites Kraków TV and Kraków Stories Podcast.
David fell in love with Kraków 25 years ago, making it his home in 2011.
In 2020 he was awarded the title of Kraków’s Ambassador of Multiculturalism, by the President of Kraków, and is also a member of the GlobalScot network, representing Scottish culture and business abroad.
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