Poland revises hate‑crime data reporting and sees surge in Ukrainian‑linked offenses

From 2026, Poland introduced new regulations governing the collection and reporting of hate‑crime statistics. A ministerial decree and orders from the General Prosecutor expanded the catalogue of offences considered hate‑motivated and standardized investigative procedures. Because of these methodological changes, 2026 crime data are not directly comparable with earlier years.

Police data released by the Polish National Police show a sharp rise in crimes committed by Ukrainian citizens since the 2022 war began. Reported offences grew from about 5,400 in the two years before the invasion to nearly 12,000 in 2022, reaching roughly 17,000 in 2025 and about 11,000 in the first half of 2026. The majority involve driving under the influence and drug‑related activities, while other violent crimes are linked to groups from the Caucasus region.