Euro 2012 safety and security report - SOS International
Euro 2012 safety and security report - SOS International
Euro 2012 safety and security report - SOS International
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Security issues<br />
Crime<br />
The threat from crime in both Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ukraine is<br />
rated as MEDIUM <strong>and</strong> crime rates in both countries<br />
may increase for the duration of the <strong>Euro</strong> <strong>2012</strong> tournament<br />
in June <strong>and</strong> July. The primary threat to visitors to<br />
both countries emanates from petty crime. Incidents of<br />
pick-pocketing, bag-snatching <strong>and</strong> theft of unattended<br />
items are frequently <strong>report</strong>ed in large urban areas<br />
such as Warsaw <strong>and</strong> Kiev. The threat is particularly<br />
elevated around public transport hubs (train, metro <strong>and</strong><br />
bus stations), at major tourist sights, busy markets <strong>and</strong><br />
near major hotels, banks <strong>and</strong> ATMs. Foreign nationals<br />
are often targeted due to their perceived wealth.<br />
Visitors to Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ukraine should also be aware<br />
that scam artists are known to operate a multitude of<br />
scams; caution <strong>and</strong> vigilance should be exercised accordingly.<br />
One well-known <strong>and</strong> frequently used scam<br />
involves a wallet or money dropped in front of a tourist.<br />
The scam artist then ‘finds the money’ <strong>and</strong> asks if it<br />
belongs to the target or offers to share the money. An<br />
accomplice subsequently approaches, claims that the<br />
wallet is his <strong>and</strong> accuses the victim of trying to steal<br />
their money. The con artists will then either they ask<br />
for a bribe in exchange for not informing the police<br />
or they ask to see the tourist’s wallet, grab it <strong>and</strong> run<br />
away. If confronted with this scam, visitors are advised<br />
not to engage the perpetrators in any conversation, but<br />
to walk away immediately. ATM <strong>and</strong> credit card fraud<br />
is also on the increase <strong>and</strong> travellers are advised only<br />
to use ATMs in secure locations (such as inside a bank<br />
or at major hotels), to keep an eye on their credit <strong>and</strong><br />
debit cards <strong>and</strong> to use them only in reputable establishments.<br />
Incidents of criminals impersonating police<br />
officers <strong>and</strong> harassing or robbing tourists also continue<br />
to be <strong>report</strong>ed in Ukraine; visitors are reminded that<br />
legitimate police officers will have, <strong>and</strong> are obliged to<br />
show, proper identification.<br />
Although violence crime directed at foreign nationals in<br />
both Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ukraine is rare, physical attacks <strong>and</strong><br />
incidents of intimidation are occasionally <strong>report</strong>ed. The<br />
threat is elevated in major urban areas, particularly<br />
night when alcohol- <strong>and</strong> drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour<br />
increases. Incidents of far-right, neo-Nazi <strong>and</strong><br />
‘skinhead’ violence have also increased in Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Ukraine in recent years. Violence is directed primarily<br />
at racial <strong>and</strong> religious minorities <strong>and</strong> members of the<br />
lesbian, gay, bi-sexual <strong>and</strong> trans-gender community<br />
but attacks <strong>and</strong> incidents of intimidation can be indiscriminate.<br />
In addition, visitors to Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ukraine<br />
should also exercise caution when drinking with, or<br />
meeting, new acquaintances in entertainment venues;<br />
there have been instances of foreign nationals being<br />
drugged <strong>and</strong> then robbed or sexually assaulted.<br />
Areas of concern<br />
Warsaw<br />
Although regarded as increasing gentrified, the Praga<br />
district in eastern Warsaw carries an elevated criminal<br />
threat <strong>and</strong> should be avoided late at night. Petty criminality<br />
is a significant concern in central Warsaw after<br />
dark, particularly in the vicinity of the main railway station,<br />
on the city’s metro system, at busy markets <strong>and</strong> in<br />
tourist areas.<br />
Gdansk<br />
Avoid the city’s shipyards <strong>and</strong> train station after dark.<br />
Poznan<br />
Visitors should avoid the low-income areas of Wilda,<br />
Jezyce <strong>and</strong> Grunwald after dark. Alcohol- <strong>and</strong> drug-related<br />
violence can also be of concern around the main<br />
square in Poznan’s Old Town.<br />
Wroclaw<br />
Crime levels are elevated in the low-income neighbourhoods<br />
on the periphery of the city.<br />
Kiev<br />
Petty criminals <strong>and</strong> scam artists are active in crowded<br />
marketplaces <strong>and</strong> on public transport. Crime rates are<br />
also elevated around international hotels <strong>and</strong> key tourist<br />
sights such as Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, Saint Michael’s<br />
Cathedral <strong>and</strong> the Pechersk Lavra monastery.<br />
Crime rates are also heightened along the popular<br />
Andriyivski Uzviz Street <strong>and</strong> in the vicinity of bars <strong>and</strong><br />
restaurants, as well as in the underground passage at<br />
Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square).<br />
Donestk<br />
Crime levels are of concern in the low-income neighbourhoods<br />
to the west <strong>and</strong> east of the city centre. In<br />
particular, visitors are urged to avoid the Kuybyshevsky<br />
Rayon <strong>and</strong> Kalininsky Rayon areas.<br />
Lviv<br />
Crime is elevated in the low-income neighbourhoods<br />
on the city’s periphery.<br />
Kharkiv<br />
Crime levels are heightened in the vicinity of Kharkiv-<br />
Passazhyrsky railway station, Tsentralny Avtovokzal<br />
central bus station <strong>and</strong> around the city’s metro stations<br />
<strong>and</strong> other public transport hubs.<br />
11