Is Poland's Cybercrime Bureau (CBZC) Going Away? Police Merge Units into a New National Investigation Bureau

Today, Poland's Chief Commander of Police announced a major overhaul of the country's law enforcement structure. Two key units will be merged: the Central Investigation Bureau of Police (CBŚP) and the Central Cybercrime Bureau (CBZC), which many of our readers already know well.

The merger will create an entirely new and powerful unit: the National Investigation Bureau (NBŚ).

Why the change?

The official reason, in the words of the announcement, is "the changing world of crime." Organized crime is clearly growing bolder in cyberspace. The police also point to the need to counter new threats such as sabotage and other subversive activity (see our coverage of Operation Horizon). According to the police, such incidents have hit Poland in recent months on a scale "never seen before."

The new National Investigation Bureau will take over the responsibilities of both merged units. It will also focus on organized corruption crime.

Is cybercrime becoming a lower priority?

Not necessarily. The CBZC will no longer be a standalone unit once it is absorbed into the NBŚ, but the fight against cyber threats will continue in a somewhat different form.

At the same time as the NBŚ is created, a new Cybercrime Bureau will be set up within National Police Headquarters (KGP). Similar units are also planned at the provincial police headquarters. This looks more like a regrouping of forces than a retreat from the issue.

In short, this is a massive reorganization. Will merging these elite units into the NBŚ actually strengthen the fight against cybercrime and sabotage? We will be watching closely.

Source: Policja.pl

Aleksander

See also: Poland in the Crosshairs of Cyberattacks and Russian Cyberattacks on Poland.