Sobering-up station in Poland

Hi there

Can anyone tell me more about the izba wytrzeźwień (sobering-up station) in Poland? In particular experiences of being there?

I am hoping to write a project/article about this as I think it's quite a unique thing to Poland?

Keen to chat to people for a few stories to understand what it is like.

It's the same drunk tank as they have in countries all around the world. It's a small jail cell you sit in either by yourself (more common if no charges) or in the bull pen with other arrestees (more common if you're being charged). If you're drunk/high and disorderly, causing a scene, etc. they're going to take you down to the station till you sober up. If its drugs and a bad reaction (common due to the synthetic cannabis, bath salts, etc. they sell all over Poland) they'll send you to the hospital. If the cops take you to the drunk tank/hospital and you're let out without any tickets or charges you should consider yourself lucky.

Main difference is that the cops don't beat people like they use to. Pre-1990s if you went to the drunk tank the cops would beat the soles of your feet with batons and make you walk home.

Only been once and it was not fun ! I imagine it's better these days ?

Thank you both, if possible could I ask more about your experience? I have a few questions and would be very grateful. My skype address is vexed101@hotmail.com

@ OP here are cpl of posts I read:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274723-i959-k11486152-Warning_Primitive_Polish_Police-Poland.html
postpravdamagazine.com/tales-of-the-intoxicated/

Can`t tell about my experiences, never been there coz I have a strange genetic flaw - the more I drink, the more sober I get. Am I still human?

But I remember reading a story about Banda Trojanki/ Trojanka `s Gang which functioned in such a station in 1970s. The workers abused, robbed, raped and tortured inmates/patients.

Check this book

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They still exist, however there are legal issues. A lady (she was a lawyer) got a huge payout several years ago because she was taken to one on the grounds of the alcohol level in her blood, despite behaving in an orderly way. Since then, the cops here have been far more careful about taking people to them without good cause.

Friends who've overnighted in them tell me that the police routinely steal any cash/valuables from people who are taken there.


They exist in a few countries in the region (mostly further east). People are charged for their stay. The nurses on duty sometimes refuse to admit people brought by the police if they consider it frivolous (or an excuse by the police to rob someone).

I heard such a story in early 1990s - a computer shop worker lost a valuable original PC game and blamed it on the police. He was funny when he complained: "The police also have kids who play games" hahahaha

However, I would be careful with such accusations today. Tipsy guys spend all their money or lose their property in bars or streets and later falsely point their dirty fingers at the police. I have never heard of any court case dealing with such criminal acts in the 21st century.

Deniability. If the person was drunk, the police can say they don't know what they were doing.

Yes, but it still shouldn`t prevent victims from sueing them, and I haven`t heard about such trials, let alone convictions.

There was the case I mentioned. That one was a little untypical in that the victim and the witnesses were lawyers.

Otherwise, being drunk at the time would certainly make someone's account be considered less reliable.

Yes, but still people sue the police for various things and don`t care about their reliability weakened by intoxication. Yet, in this century, I have never read about a case of stolen money or other belongings by the police.

They never reach the papers and the dibble are good at denial.