Euro 2012 safety and security report - SOS International

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Security issues Crime The threat from crime in both Poland and Ukraine is rated as MEDIUM and crime rates in both countries may increase for the duration of the Euro 2012 tournament in June and July. The primary threat to visitors to both countries emanates from petty crime. Incidents of pick-pocketing, bag-snatching and theft of unattended items are frequently reported in large urban areas such as Warsaw and Kiev. The threat is particularly elevated around public transport hubs (train, metro and bus stations), at major tourist sights, busy markets and near major hotels, banks and ATMs. Foreign nationals are often targeted due to their perceived wealth. Visitors to Poland and Ukraine should also be aware that scam artists are known to operate a multitude of scams; caution and vigilance should be exercised accordingly. One well-known and frequently used scam involves a wallet or money dropped in front of a tourist. The scam artist then ‘finds the money’ and asks if it belongs to the target or offers to share the money. An accomplice subsequently approaches, claims that the wallet is his and accuses the victim of trying to steal their money. The con artists will then either they ask for a bribe in exchange for not informing the police or they ask to see the tourist’s wallet, grab it and run away. If confronted with this scam, visitors are advised not to engage the perpetrators in any conversation, but to walk away immediately. ATM and credit card fraud is also on the increase and travellers are advised only to use ATMs in secure locations (such as inside a bank or at major hotels), to keep an eye on their credit and debit cards and to use them only in reputable establishments. Incidents of criminals impersonating police officers and harassing or robbing tourists also continue to be reported in Ukraine; visitors are reminded that legitimate police officers will have, and are obliged to show, proper identification. Although violence crime directed at foreign nationals in both Poland and Ukraine is rare, physical attacks and incidents of intimidation are occasionally reported. The threat is elevated in major urban areas, particularly night when alcohol- and drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour increases. Incidents of far-right, neo-Nazi and ‘skinhead’ violence have also increased in Poland and Ukraine in recent years. Violence is directed primarily at racial and religious minorities and members of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender community but attacks and incidents of intimidation can be indiscriminate. In addition, visitors to Poland and Ukraine should also exercise caution when drinking with, or meeting, new acquaintances in entertainment venues; there have been instances of foreign nationals being drugged and then robbed or sexually assaulted. Areas of concern Warsaw Although regarded as increasing gentrified, the Praga district in eastern Warsaw carries an elevated criminal threat and should be avoided late at night. Petty criminality is a significant concern in central Warsaw after dark, particularly in the vicinity of the main railway station, on the city’s metro system, at busy markets and in tourist areas. Gdansk Avoid the city’s shipyards and train station after dark. Poznan Visitors should avoid the low-income areas of Wilda, Jezyce and Grunwald after dark. Alcohol- and drug-related violence can also be of concern around the main square in Poznan’s Old Town. Wroclaw Crime levels are elevated in the low-income neighbourhoods on the periphery of the city. Kiev Petty criminals and scam artists are active in crowded marketplaces and on public transport. Crime rates are also elevated around international hotels and key tourist sights such as Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, Saint Michael’s Cathedral and the Pechersk Lavra monastery. Crime rates are also heightened along the popular Andriyivski Uzviz Street and in the vicinity of bars and restaurants, as well as in the underground passage at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). Donestk Crime levels are of concern in the low-income neighbourhoods to the west and east of the city centre. In particular, visitors are urged to avoid the Kuybyshevsky Rayon and Kalininsky Rayon areas. Lviv Crime is elevated in the low-income neighbourhoods on the city’s periphery. Kharkiv Crime levels are heightened in the vicinity of Kharkiv- Passazhyrsky railway station, Tsentralny Avtovokzal central bus station and around the city’s metro stations and other public transport hubs. 11
12 Euro 2012 safety and security report Civil unrest The threat from politically motivated civil unrest in Poland is assessed to be low. Most protests and marches pass peacefully and are well policed. Most strike action is small-scale in nature and concerns individual companies rather than entire employment sectors. Occasional clashes between extremist groups do occur in the country and a neo-Nazi element continues to carry out arson attacks on synagogues, Jewish cultural centres, World War II monuments and Israeli- and Jewish-linked businesses. The threat from politically motivated civil unrest in Ukraine is assessed to be medium. The country has a history of large-scale civil unrest linked to political developments, as well as deeply entrenched social, ethnic and linguistic divisions between the broadly pro-Western west of the country and pro-Russian east. Pro-Russian elements and far-right nationalist groups such as Svoboda (Freedom), Bratstvo (Brotherhood) and Tryzub (Trident) occasionally try to exploit this divide and stage protests outside Parliament and government buildings. Such protests may take place on the anniversary of the Great Patriotic War on 22 June and clashes between rival demonstrators are a credible concern in Kiev and Lviv. Socio-economic protests also take place in Kiev and various groups regularly demonstrate over wages, pensions, working conditions and inflation. Given that the current economic outlook is uncertain across Europe, an upsurge in protest action and associated unrest cannot be discounted ahead of Euro 2012. The political situation in Ukraine is also currently volatile. On 12 May 2012, at least 2,000 opposition supporters demonstrated in Kyiv to demand the release of opposition leader and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko is currently serving a seven-year sentence for charges related to impropriety while in office. Tymoshenko also faces charges relating to tax evasion. Opposition supporters believe both charges are politically motivated and have been directed by the current government of President Viktor Yanukovych. Protests against Timoshenko’s conviction and against the government of Yanukovych have persisted since October 2011 and are likely to escalate head of Tymoskenko’s latest trial in May and ahead of parliamentary elections in October. Such demonstrations may attract significant participation and have the potential to cause significant disruption in Kiev; in particular, protests are likely to centre on Maidan Nezalehnosti (Independence Square). Ukrainian security forces are also not averse to using robust crowd control tactics and as such, clashes between demonstrators and the security forces are a distinct possibility. Such clashes pose an incidental risk to bystanders. Football hooliganism There is credible threat of violence between rival football fans at the Euro 2012 tournament. Both the Ukrainian and Polish authorities have stated that there will be a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to incidents of football-related unrest and their respective security forces can be expected to be firm in dealing with disturbances between rival fans. Nonetheless, both host countries have an established problem with football hooliganism. Significant unrest occurs sporadically at domestic matches and Polish supporters initiated a riot in a friendly match against Lithuania in March 2011. Fatalities have occurred in fighting between rival supporters in both countries in the past and there is a history of neo-Nazi involvement in football-related violence. As such, there is a credible and significant concern that such elements will seek to initiate violent confrontations during the 2012 tournament. These may involve supporters from rival countries and the nature of football-related unrest means that such disturbances carry significant incidental risks. Matches that may trigger a credible risk of violence and/or hooliganism between opposing fans include the Russia v Czech Republic match on 8 June in Wroclaw; the Poland v Russia match on 12 June in Warsaw; the Holland v Germany match in Kharkiv on 13 June; and Ukraine v England match on 19 June in Donetsk. ‘Fan zones’ near the Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw and at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kiev carry a particularly high risk of clashes between intoxicated rival football supporters. Terrorism The terrorism threat in Poland and Ukraine is assessed to be low. Terrorism-related incidents in both countries are rare and the four coordinated bombings in the south eastern Ukrainian town of Dnipropetrovsk on 27 April which left 30 people injured, were thought to be the work of criminal elements rather than terrorists. Nonetheless, the terrorist threat will likely increase ahead of, and during, Euro 2012. The threat from terrorism has cast a shadow over international sporting events since Palestinian radicals attacked the Munich Olympics in 1972. Although the scale and nature of terrorism has since evolved, the threat remains. Euro 2012 will attract large numbers of spectators, foreign
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Euro 2012 safety and security report - SOS International

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