Budapest Police apologize for offensive email sent to journalist

The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) has launched an internal investigation and issued a formal apology following a scandal involving offensive internal correspondence sent to a journalist.

Noémi Martini, a journalist for HVG, had been investigating street harassment in Budapest, collecting over 300 reports—93 percent of which were from women. After seeking an interview with the Budapest Police Chief, she mistakenly received an internal email intended for other officers. The message, which began with “Dear Attila!”, stated that the Police Chief would not grant an interview to a “screeching blue-haired woman.”

The BRFK described the tone of the communication as “unacceptable” and a violation of the organization’s ethical and communication standards. Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai also condemned the language, emphasizing that street harassment is a serious issue that must be addressed with all legal tools. The police have pledged to clarify the circumstances of the incident and ensure such behavior does not recur.