Most villages and small towns in Poland are very quiet and peaceful. In
resorts, especially during the summer months, youths under the influence of
alcohol may be apparent – the best tactic is to avoid them discreetly.

Polish cities suffer from the same crime and security problems as most
European capitals, so that vigilance and care are needed. In case of
difficulties, the police are helpful. In big cities, visitors may walk quite
safely during the day. Attacks on tourists in city centres are not unknown,
but they happen very seldom. Every big town, however, has its shady
districts. In Warsaw, it is advisable to avoid Ulica Brzeska and the
surrounding Praga district; in Gdańsk, the Orunia district is best given a
miss, while in Wrocław, Ulica Kościuszki, Ulica Traugutta and Ulica
Krasińskiego are decidedly insalubrious. At night, robberies can occur even
in city centres. In the Old Town and Main Town of Gdańsk, organized gangs
patrol the streets and it has been known for them to snatch a necklace from
a tourist’s neck or grab a bag despite the presence of witnesses. It is
assumed that a tourist will not go to the trouble of reporting a crime and
having to appear in court later on.

In market squares it is best to avoid all the games of dice or three-card
tricks that go on. The players are usually fraudsters, who prey on those
naive enough to hand over money: the likelihood of being reimbursed if you
win the game is rather small.

Drivers travelling at night should never react to signals given by anyone in
plain clothes. Outside built-up areas, drivers can only be stopped by
uniformed policemen standing near a marked police car – blue with a white
stripe and a flashing light on the roof. Foreign visitors travelling around
Poland should carry their passport with them at all times, or at the very
least have some form of identification or the number of someone who should
be contacted in the case of an emergency.

In cities, pickpockets are responsible for many thefts. It is essential
therefore always to keep bags and wallets safe, and never to carry a
passport, wallet or other valuable item in a back pocket or open bag.
Travellers should always be aware of the threat of theft, especially in
railway and bus stations, in trams and at bus stops. In railway and bus
stations, thefts mostly occur in an artificial crowd created by the thieves
as people are boarding, so extra vigilance is required. On trams and buses
thieves usually operate in groups, sometimes using such methods as crowding
or “accidentally” running into a victim.

It is also inadvisable to leave any valuable or desirable items, particularly
a radio, in a car. A car alarm may not discourage thieves, and it is best to
park in one of the many supervised car parks. Car theft is conducted by
increasingly daring means, and the police appear unable to prevent it. The
thieves usually use one of two methods. One involves telling the driver
about an imaginary puncture. When the driver gets out, the criminals
threaten him or her with a weapon, get into the car and drive off. Another
method is to provoke a collision so as to make the driver get out of the
car.

It is advisable to take out insurance against theft before leaving for
Poland, as this may be difficult to arrange once there. Although the theft
of a car should be reported to the police immediately, there is little
chance of it being recovered.

Security in Poland is provided by policemen and policewomen from different
forces, as well as private security organizations. Any problems encountered
by the visitor should be reported to a policeman in uniform, at a police
station. The state police are armed and have the right to arrest suspects.
Policemen patrol streets on foot or in navy blue and white cars. Traffic
wardens, who have fewer powers, are primarily concerned with correct parking
and the enforcement of traffic regulations. Traffic wardens wear different
uniforms from town to town, and their cars carry plates bearing the town
emblem.

Street traffic is the responsibility of the highway police. This includes the
enforcement of speed limits and the control of drunken driving. Driving even
after a small amount of alcohol is against the law. The police may ask
drivers to take random breathalyzer tests; a positive result will incur a
very steep fine indeed. Penalties for parking offences and speeding are also
very high (see Regulations). In the event of a serious car accident, all three
emergency services – police, fire brigade and ambulance – should be
called.

In many towns, private security agents are hired to protect public buildings
and private houses and keep order at various events. They usually wear black
uniforms.

Should medical attention be required, a doctor should be called or a visit
made to the nearest hospital. Local daily newspapers carry up-to-date lists
of hospitals. Poland has both public health service and private healthcare
organizations. General health insurance is available only to Polish
citizens, foreigners who hold residents’ cards and political refugees.
Citizens of those countries that have appropriate agreements with Poland
(and this includes the United Kingdom but not Commonwealth countries or the
United States) are entitled to receive medical treatment until they can be
safely repatriated. While first aid is administered free of charge, other
kinds of treat-ment must usually be paid for on the spot. Travellers are
strongly advised to take out health insurance and obtain a European Health
Insurance Card before arriving. Foreign nationals should always carry a
passport and keep money aside for medical emergencies. An invoice for
medical treat-ment will be given on request.

Pharmacies sell a wide range of medication, but most of them will only be
dispensed if prescribed by a doctor. Reduced rates only apply to
prescriptions issued in Poland. Individuals who are receiving specialist
treatment should take a sufficient supply of medicine with them or ask their
doctor to make out several prescriptions with the international name of the
drug.

In every town, at least one pharmacy should be on night duty. An up-to-date
list of such pharmacies is published in local newspapers.