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SWPS University - Main page

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Citizens’ supervision over police activities

About the seminar Register for the event

Languages of the event: English and Polish

Photo of a police officer's back. A police car is visible in the background.

About the seminar

Poland has been experiencing a surge in complaints regarding police actions, from the misuse of coercive measures to questionable detentions and concerns over the limits of authority. Citizens often have the impression that police officers evade accountability, even if their mistakes are acknowledged by the courts.

In Poland, individuals can lodge complaints with the Commissioner for Human Rights or pursue legal measures to address police actions. However, we must critically examine whether these channels are truly effective and efficient. Is it time for Poland to establish an independent body that oversees police operations? Permanent Oversight Committee on the Police Services (Committee P), an example from Belgium, serves as a potential model worth exploring.

During the conference, Kathleen Stinckens, the chair of Committee P, will present the organization's core principles and notable achievements. Her presentation will be followed by a discussion panel featuring former police officers, government officials, and activists. Together, we will explore the possibilities and examine the crucial aspects of designing an optimal system for police oversight, especially in light of allegations of violation of human rights.

Program

  1. Opening statements

     

    Professor Roman Cieślak
    Rector of SWPS University
    Rik Van Droogenbroeck
    Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Poland and Lithuania
  2. Keynote speeches: Citizens’ supervision over police activities in the Kingdom of Belgium

     

    Kathleen Stinckens
    Chair of the Permanent Oversight Committee on the Police Services (Committee P)
    Jan Van Lier
    Deputy Director General of the Investigations Department of the Committee P
  3. Q&A session with keynote speaker

     

  4. Coffee break

     

  5. Discussion panel on Polish practices regarding citizens’ complaints over police activities and possible reforms

     

    Moderator: Adam Bodnar, Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    Dean of the Faculty of Law in Warsaw, SWPS University
    Kathleen Stinckens
    Chair of Committee P
    Adam Rapacki
    president of Stowarzyszenie Generałów Policji Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Association of Police Generals of the Republic of Poland) | former Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Police
    [online] Professor Stanisław Pieprzny
    University of Rzeszów
    Aleksandra Wentkowska, Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    University of Silesia in Katowice, Local Representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Katowice
    Karolina Gierdal
    attorney, co-creator of the Szpila collective
    [online] Janina Czapska, Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    Jagiellonian University in Kraków
    Jan Van Lier
    Deputy Director General of the Investigations Department of the Committee P
  6. Closing remarks

     

    Ewa Dawidziuk, Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
    Vice-Dean for Student Affairs in the Faculty of Law in Warsaw, SWPS University

Keynote Speakers

avatar female
Kathleen Stinckens
Is a lawyer and Chair of the Permanent Oversight Committee on the Police Services (Committee P). She holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and a postgraduate degree in Multidisciplinary Forensic Sciences. Throughout her career, she has worked as a lawyer, deputy public prosecutor at the Leuven Court of First Instance, police court judge, and vice president of the judges of the peace and the judges of the police court in Leuven. Kathleen has served as a spokesperson for the Union royale des juges de paix et de police from 2016 to 2018. She is teaches at the Catholic University of Leuven and frequently delivers guest lectures at other universities and training institutions. She has co-authored a series of books on traffic law and authored various law books. She is also a regular participant in expert panels and scientific conferences, offering valuable insights in her areas of specialization.
avatar male
Jan Van Lier
Serves as the Deputy Director General of the Investigations Department at Committee P. He earned a master's degree in political and social sciences from the University of Antwerp. In 2008, he successfully completed the International Anti-corruption summer school at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna. Throughout his career, John has held various roles within the Belgian police, including managerial and advisory positions. From 2003 to 2022, he worked as an auditor-researcher in the Investigation Department of Committee P and was later appointed Deputy Director General in 2022. He is highly regarded for his expertise in Integrity Policy & Integrity Assessment, as well as his extensive knowledge of anti-corruption issues and auditing police operations.

Registration Form

Organizers

  • logo of SWPS University's Faculty of Law in Warsaw
  • Logo of the Embassy of Belgium

Location

Faculty of Law in Warsaw, SWPS University, Chodakowska 19/31, room S304