Internal Security Agency

The Internal Security Agency (ABW) is a Polish special service established in 2002 to protect the internal security of the state and the constitutional order. Its headquarters is located at 2a Rakowiecka Street in Warsaw. The agency was created as a result of a reform that split the Office of State Protection into two separate institutions: the ABW and the Foreign Intelligence Agency. The ABW undertakes activities in the areas of counterintelligence, protection of classified information, prevention of terrorism, and combating corruption. ABW officers have broad powers, including conducting operational and reconnaissance activities and using covert documents that prevent their identification. Organizationally, the ABW is divided into various departments and offices, including the Counterterrorism Center, which focuses on preventing terrorist threats. The agency has experienced various successes, such as dismantling spy networks, as well as failures, such as wrongful detentions or failure to recognize criminal activities, which have impacted its reputation. It cooperates with other national and international institutions, and its activities are subject to oversight by the Prime Minister, ministries, and civic bodies such as the Ombudsman for Citizens' Rights. Architecturally, the ABW headquarters in Warsaw is a modern building that serves as the main center of the agency's operations. Historically, the ABW continues the long tradition of Polish special services dating back to the pre-war period. Interestingly, despite its secretive nature, the ABW engages in publishing activities, including journals on security, demonstrating its openness to collaboration with academia and society.