Priests Learn Defense Tactics
Polish police have conducted a training course for Roman Catholic parish priests on how to protect their churches against robberies and acts of terrorism. According to police officials, many Polish churches and presbyteries still have minimal security despite repeated warnings that the valuable artefacts they contained were targets for thieves. Polish priests have also been trained in terrorism awareness, as well as handling and disposing of explosives.
Polish police have repeatedly urged better security at the country's 9,000 Roman Catholic parishes after recent increase in the number of break-ins and robberies, as well as acts of vandalism and arson. According to official statistics, 77 attacks had been registered this year alone on churches, chapels and presbyteries in the central Wielkopolska region. Several bomb scares have also paralysed communications around the country. According to Poznan police, many priests already know the importance of good safety measures but others should be reminded that they are the ones who are held responsible for church property. That's why, the priests were also trained in terrorism awareness and handling and disposing of explosives. The training took place on November 23rd with the participation of several dozen parish priests. Police commissioner Jaroslaw Szemerluk from the Pozna police headquarters explains.
'We taught them how to protect houses of worship against any kinds of robberies. During the training session priests also learnt what is the nature of terrorism and how explosive materials are made. Small locks on doors of wooden churches are a rare occurence in Poland now but it still happens that precious churches or chapels are not properly secured. Hence we wanted to warn parish priests as it is them who are responsible for these valuable assets before their parishioners. In many cases among most often stolen objects from Polish churches is electronic equipment, including speakers, but sometimes when robbers break in they destroy precious stained glass windows with bricks.'
The place of the first training of that kind in Poland was not accidental - the shrine in Lichen, mid-western Poland, whose basilica, Europe's seventh largest, is visited by millions of pilgrims yearly. It has civilian security service protecting the shrine around the clock but is still a potential target for many criminal acts. Police commissioner Jaroslaw Szemerluk again.
'We chose Lichen as the place of the training because each year this place is visited by around two million pilgrims. We also tried to make the priests aware of numerous pickpockets and suspicious looking packages there. The name of the Lichen shrine had already appeared as a potential target for terrorist attacks and hence a specially trained police officer from the police prevention unit in Poznan conducted this part of the session. At the end all the participating priests recevied a special manual on procedures of protection against criminal acts in places of worship. '
Police commisioner Jaroslaw Szemerluk stressed that although this has been the first training of that kind in Poland, Poznan police is ready to conduct many more if such a need arises.