Already over 107,000 people at the borders with Germany and Lithuania controlled the Border defender supported by the military and police. The heads of the MON, the Ministry of abroad Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure summed up the first week of operations “Safe West”. According to Cezary Tomczyk, the deputy chief of the MON, more than 1,000 soldiers are presently helping to seal borders.
– Over 107,000 people were inspected during the week, which shows the scale and strength of the service activities," said Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Interior and Administration, summarizing the week of temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania. As the Minister added during the briefing at the Ministry's headquarters, the services – Border Guard, police and military – effectively identify and detain persons wanted, detect false papers and thwart attempts to smuggle and illegally cross the border. At the same time, Siemoniak stressed that the activities of the services at the border with Germany and Lithuania confirmed the appropriateness of temporary checks.
The head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs stated that the detentions took place, among others, on the last weekend on the Polish-Lithuanian border. “We are trying to destruct a fresh migration way there due to the sealing of the barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border,” explained the minister. As he explained, migrants who did not get to Poland through the dam are now heading for Latvia and from there south.
Siemoniak added that migrants are trying to get to Poland not only through border crossings, but besides through the alleged green border. “I have issued instructions that the Chief of Border defender in contact with the Ministry of Defence will increase forces on the border, so that its tightness is greater than at present”, said the head of the Ministry of Defence. He besides announced that his ministry would contact partners from Germany and Lithuania this week to measure the first week of border control.
The head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs reported that the situation is unchangeable at border crossing points with Germany and Lithuania, and that traffic takes place without major difficulties. The congestion only formed during the weekend in Swiecki. As Stanislaw Bukowic, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, said, to improve the fluidity of traffic in this place, a second lane for entering Poland will be opened.
Minister Siemoniak besides pointed out the increasing threat of misinformation and false information on illegal migrants. He called for information on the situation at the border to be obtained only from data provided by state services. Cezary Tomczyk, Deputy Minister of National Defence, besides stressed that he should usage only authoritative communications and not spread misinformation, which could affect the safety of people protecting national borders.
As calculated by the deputy chief of the MON, present on the border with Germany and Lithuania the Border defender supports over 1,000 soldiers. – Mixed patrols work very well – said Tomczyk. He besides thanked WOT soldiers, who have late managed to halt couriers who are active in the movement of migrants across our country. As the Deputy Minister of Defence said, the military's current commitment to border protection includes a full of about 10,000 soldiers. – Half is aimed at operation on the Belarusian border, and 5,000 soldiers are ready to usage on the border with Germany and Lithuania – Tomczyk said.
Deputy Minister of Defence asked by journalists besides referred to assault on a soldier on the east border, which occurred on July 10. “It must be remembered that the intervention of the soldiers was the consequence of an illegal crossing of the border by the Afghan citizen, and all attack on the Polish soldier is an attack on the Polish state,” said Tomczyk. He besides added that in the last 7 days 724 attempts were made to illegally cross the east border, which means an increase of about 32% compared to the erstwhile week.
Temporary border checks with Germany and Lithuania were restored on 7 July. As part of Operation Safe West, the Border Guards are supported by police, territorial defence troops and the Military Police. They aid SG officers to conduct controls and patrol the area. Temporary border checks are to take place until 5 August, but the government does not exclude their extension.
