Warsaw Police Transported Suspected Assaulter Of Belarusian Woman In Strange Helmet

What is it for?

On the night from Saturday to Sunday in the center of Warsaw, a man attacked a 25-year-old Belarusian woman: he put a knife to her throat, raped her and tried to strangle her. The woman has been found unconscious and is now in hospital in serious condition.

The suspect was detained on the same day — he turned out to be a 23-year-old Warsaw resident. Later, the police showed photos and videos of him — the guy was being transported in a massive black helmet, writes zerkalo.io.

You won’t see this in the releases of Belarusian security forces — but why does the Polish police use this device?

In the photographs, the police are leading a young guy in a T-shirt with a New Year's print and the inscription “Joy”, his hands are cuffed in front and chained to his legs. The special helmet covers his entire head, including the sides and jaw, leaving only the central part of his face exposed. The device has large soft pads. Apparently, it not only covers the face of a crime suspect from the cameras, but also protects him from something.

Indeed, the Polish police call this thing a “protective helmet” (kask zabezpieczający). It has a dual purpose:

reduce the risk that a suspect will harm themselves — for example, they will break their head while being transported or when left alone in a cell or interrogation room;

protect the police from the suspect — possible bites, headbutts and even spitting.

In Poland, a helmet of its own design is used: it was created at the Moratex Institute of Security Technologies in Łódź in collaboration with specialists from the Main Police Department.

Each helmet segment consists of layers of at least two different porous materials with varying degrees of impact energy absorption. The segments that protect the forehead, jaw and back of the head absorb shock more effectively than others.

In addition, the device must be accompanied by disposable sanitary pads to protect it from contamination by a detainee’s secretions — sweat, blood, saliva, and so on. Judging by the photographs of the rape suspect, in his case there were no sanitary pads — in one of the pictures only a medical mask covering his nose and mouth is visible.

The protective helmet entered service with the Polish police back in 2015. It belongs to the group of means of direct coercion. It is not used with every detainee, but if necessary, in special situations. In addition to police officers, border guards, correctional officers and military police soldiers have the right to use this helmet.