The cultural role of the state police : press, sport, police family

The Polish state police was, first of all, an institution guar ding the state’s security and public order before the Se cond World War. However, apart from performing the tasks related to this goal, it also conducted a number of activi ties for the benefit of the society. First of all, it was acti vity in the field of integrating the milieu of police families and caring for widows and orphans of fallen officers. In addition, the police also organized sports clubs, libraries and people’s reading rooms. Especially these institutions played an important role in the promotion of sport and Po lish culture in rural areas where there were no similar civil or local institutions. This was to serve not only to improve the image and build trust in the service, but also to modernize the society.