Polish Police Launch "Archive X – We Never Stop Searching!" Campaign

The National Police Headquarters, in cooperation with the Criminal Bureau and the Social Communication Bureau, has initiated a nationwide campaign titled "Archive X – We Never Stop Searching!". Its main goal is to remind the public that unsolved criminal cases, especially murders from years ago, are not just volumes of files, but primarily human tragedies for families and loved ones who are still searching for answers. The campaign is conducted during the Week of Help for Crime Victims.

Archives are Living Stories – The Search for Truth

The work of officers from Archive X goes beyond standard document analysis. It is a mission to reconstruct the victims' stories and provide answers to the tormenting questions that families have been asking for years. Thanks to technological progress, such as modern DNA testing and advanced forensic analysis, it is possible to re-examine evidence and discover new leads. However, human memory and the willingness to share information with law enforcement agencies remain crucial for solving old cases.

Your Detail Could Be a Breakthrough

The campaign aims to encourage all witnesses and individuals possessing any knowledge about criminal events to report even seemingly insignificant details. As emphasized by Insp. Dr. Michał Białęcki, Director of the Criminal Bureau of the National Police Headquarters: "Human memory is fleeting, and time works against us. However, sometimes a small impulse, a trigger, is enough to make them alive again. Returning to events and tragic stories from years ago, which may evoke difficult, but important for us – Archive X officers – memories, is the goal of this campaign. We never stop searching!"

Even seemingly unimportant details, which might have been overlooked in the past, today, in light of new analytical capabilities, can connect facts and lead to the apprehension of the perpetrator. The campaign also highlights the importance of empathy and social responsibility in the pursuit of truth.

Insp. Katarzyna Nowak, Press Spokesperson for the Chief Commander of the Police, adds: "Behind every such unsolved case lies someone's suffering and expectation of truth. [...] Our campaign also aims to show that the passage of time does not close the path to justice, and new analytical capabilities, the experience of police officers, and information provided by witnesses can bring the long-awaited breakthrough in the investigation."

The Campaign Highlights Three Specific Cases

As part of the initiative, three unsolved cases that Archive X officers are still working on will be recalled. Each will be presented in the form of short films and publications, including an appeal for contact from individuals who may remember the circumstances of the events. These cases involve:

• Anna Prus from Kamień Pomorski
• A newborn from the Kazimierzowo area
• Danuta Matusik from Rybnik

The campaign also refers to the successes of the Police, which in recent years have solved many cases from several, or even several dozen, years ago, confirming the effectiveness of Archive X's work.

History and Development of Archive X in the Polish Police

Archive X teams began operating in the Polish Police in the late 1990s, with the first one established in 1999 at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Kraków. The impulse for their creation was the dynamic development of technology and forensics, which allowed for a new look at old evidence.

The Central Archive X, also known as the Unsolved Crimes Department of the Criminal Bureau of the National Police Headquarters, was established on May 15, 2023. It deals with the most serious unsolved crimes against life and health, disappearances from years ago, and coordinates activities nationwide, cooperating with prosecutors and local units.

We Never Stop Searching – Get in Touch!

Every piece of information, no matter how small, can prove crucial. Individuals with knowledge about the cases presented are asked to contact the Police at +48 509 985 025 or by email at [email protected]. The Police ensure full anonymity.

Text: Agnieszka Włodarska/ BKS KGP

Film: podkom. Tomasz Lis/ BKS KGP