Response to the BBC report
In response to the statement of the former England captain's, Sol Campbell, advising fans travelling to EURO 2012 to “Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don't even risk it… because you could end up coming back in a coffin”, which has been broadcast on the BBC’s Panorama, I would like to inform you that the statement is false and harmful.
We are deeply sorry that the report contains opinion of only one person. It failed to include e.g. any views of international security experts. The Polish Police cooperate with international police forces, including the British Police. The material has also failed to provide any reports of the British Police on safety and security at EURO 2012. I would like to point out that also liaison officers of the British Police are coming to Poland to participate in the tournament and cooperate with the Polish Police officers based on an exchange of information.
The Ministry of Interior and Polish services responsible for the safety and security are ready to provide security to all football fans and players who will come to EURO 2012 in Poland.
The Polish Police have been preparing to ensure security at EURO 2012 for years, taking into account various possible scenarios. At such a large sports event as EURO 2012 certain incidents with football fans may be expected. However, the Polish Police is fully aware of that and have been preparing for such a possibility.
As many as 13 out of 16 national football teams taking part in the tournament have chosen to stay in Polish cities during EURO 2012, which clearly shows that they have no concerns regarding security. Also the British football team have decided to stay in Poland. The British team are staying in Kraków during the whole tournament, a well-known and popular destination among tourists from Great Britain.
I would also like to point out that the services under the Ministry of Interior will spare no effort to prevent anything from spoiling the atmosphere of such a great sports festival as EURO 2012. A few hundreds of thousands of police officers will directly protect the security at EURO 2012.
The number of tourists coming to Poland from abroad increases every year. It is more and more common to hear English, German or French in the streets of Warsaw, Gdańsk, or Wrocław. A large number of tourists visiting Poland are British. Kraków is a fine example of a Polish destination frequently visited by young British tourists. Thousands of football fans are coming to EURO 2012 matches in Poland to support their national teams in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Wrocław, or Poznań, and at official training sessions open to the public in cities hosting the teams throughout the tournament.
Please, have in mind that all Polish citizens feel hosts of EURO 2012 and will do their best to make footballers and football fans feel at home.
Małgorzata Woźniak
Spokesperson
Polish Ministry of Interior
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