An overview of offences against monuments in the Polish law

Abstract

The aim of the article is to overview the criminal law regulations and the standpoints of Polish doctrine concerning the protection of monuments under Polish law. The main discussion is preceded by an introduction, which explains key concepts relating to crime against monuments, including what is to beunderstood by the criminological term “crime against monuments”. The next part of the study discusses crimes against monuments governed by the Penal Code and the Law on the Act on the Protection and Guardianship of Monuments. The paper closes with brief conclusions. One of the main postulates isthe need to strengthen the criminal law protection of monuments by creatinga separate chapter of the Penal Code dedicated to these assets.