Police (German Pölitz) is a town in Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with 35,000 inhabitants (2000).

The name comes from Polish pole, which means "field".

Police is the capital of Police County in West Pomeranian Voivodship (since 1999), previously it was in Szczecin Voivodship (1975-1998).

Major corporations

• Zakłady Chemiczne Police SA

History

The settlement was first time mentioned in years 1243-1259. Soon in 1321 the city became dependency of Szczecin the decision that made Police small city. The development of the city restarted in mid 18th century. In 1937 the decision to build a huge complex of the synthetic petrol plant (Hydrierwerke AG) was made by the main investor, I.G. Farbenindustrie concern. During World War II the Germans operated a huge synthetic oil plant near the town. The workforce for the plant came from the system of camps (Pommernlager, Nordlager, Tobruklager, Wullenwever-Lager, Arbeitserzeihungs Lager Hägerwelle, Dürrfeld Lager). A trade ship moored on the Odrea river also served as a camp (Umschulungslager Bremerhaven). Police in Nazi times was a location for the German concentration camp Pölitz that was a subcamp of the concentration camp Stutthof. The inmates of the camp worked at the synthetic oil plant. Due to its key role in producing fuel for the German armed forces, the plant was bombed numerous times by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force.

The city and the plant was captured on April 26, 1945 and soon became Russian adminstred exclave within territory of Poland. German slave workers worked on the disassembling the plant before its expedition to Soviet Union. The city without main plant machines were given back to Poland gradually (on September 7,1946 Mścięcino, followed by Police and Jasienica on September 19, on February 25, 1947 the plant also passed into Polish control). Since that moment first settlers arrived in the region, joined by refugees from Greece and Macedonia in 1953.

The ruins of the plant still remain standing, though they are not secured and are dangerous to visit.

A large modern chemical plant was built in the town in 1969 and has grown since to become one of the largest in Poland.

Population

1960: 8,900 inhabitants
1970: 12,800 inhabitants
1975: 17,600 inhabitants
1980: 24,800 inhabitants
1990: 34,400 inhabitants
1995: 34,500 inhabitants

History of Police