Safety & Fire Technology (Dec 2019)
Systemic Approach to Civil Protection in Poland
Abstract
Aim: The primary goal of this study was to identify the civil protection system within the domain of Poland’s national security, to describe its mission and range of responsibilities, and to suggest what should be changed. The main research problem, as addressed by this study, was expressed as the following questions: What function does the civil protection system currently serve within Poland’s national security? What are its core focus and responsibilities, and what are its development needs and priorities? Introduction: In Poland, the security of the State and its citizens is the responsibility of the national security system. One if its major parts is civil protection (public security). The framework used to ensure civil security is the civil protection system, with life-saving as its primary concern. Results: For this study, it was assumed that the core focus of civil protection were actions designed to reduce any possible risks to human life or health (prevention and counter measures), and once such risks materialise, to provide efficient response to ensure effective security. In a broader sense, civil protection within national security can be considered as a set of nationwide measures intended to ensure the safety of all citizens, property and the environment. In view of the above, civil protection can be understood as the set of measures implemented by government and local-government administration, plus any security-related capabilities and measures (national resources), allocated or set up to prevent, prepare for or respond to any security risks, or to restore any victim population to normal functioning. It was assumed that a civil protection system is an internally coordinated system of capabilities, measures and resources designed to prevent any risks to civil security, and to provide expeditious response to situations that might put citizens’ lives or health at risk. Today, this system is significantly fragmented, and civil protection is often intermingled with such areas as crisis management, public security, safe and secure public environment, and national defence. An effective civil protection system should be an interdisciplinary and well-integrated system capable of responding to any current and expected civil security challenges and threats across various national circumstances.
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