Your rights during a police intervention in Czechia: the officer's number, filming and complaints
How an officer must identify themselves, what they must explain to you, whether you may film the intervention, what to do when the police fail to act, where to complain about an officer's conduct and who investigates crimes by police officers.
The police are intervening and you are not sure they are doing it right. Or you reported a crime and nothing is happening. Police officers in Czechia have wide powers, but also clear duties. If you know them, you stay calm and know how to defend yourself if needed.
1. Who you are dealing with: the identification number
When carrying out an action, an officer must show they belong to the police by uniform, service card or police badge, on which the identification number must be clearly visible (Section 12(1) of Act No. 273/2008 Coll., on the Police of the Czech Republic). If circumstances do not allow this, they identify themselves orally by saying “policie”, and with the card or badge as soon as possible (Section 12(2) of Act No. 273/2008 Coll.). The exception is an officer who is lawfully concealing their police status (Section 12(3) of Act No. 273/2008 Coll.). Note the identification number: a complaint is harder to deal with without it.
2. The officer must explain why they are acting
Before acting, the officer must tell the person concerned the legal grounds for the action. If the action interferes with rights or freedoms, they must also explain that person's rights and obligations. If the nature and circumstances of the action do not allow this, they must do so as soon as possible (Section 13 of Act No. 273/2008 Coll.). Feel free to ask calmly: “On what basis are you doing this?” But comply with the officer's instructions: failing to obey an instruction of an official exercising their powers is a misdemeanour (Act No. 251/2016 Coll., Section 5(1)(a)). Deal with any dispute afterwards, by a complaint.
3. May you film the intervention?
- Yes, as a rule you may. The Supreme Administrative Court has held that, with some exceptions, the police must tolerate the recording of their interventions, because it serves public scrutiny of the lawfulness of their conduct (judgment of 21 September 2022, ref. 7 As 47/2022-44).
- Other people (witnesses, passers-by, medical staff) are a different matter: capturing a person's likeness so that they can be identified requires their consent (Section 84 OZ). A recording may be made without consent if it serves to protect your rights (Section 88(1) OZ).
- Keep the recording as evidence for a complaint or for the police. Spreading a person's likeness, for example on social media, requires their consent (Section 85(1) OZ).
- Film from a distance and do not obstruct the intervention. If an officer instructs you to do something, comply (point 2).
4. The police are not acting on your complaint
- Ask to be informed: the police must then inform you of the measures taken within one month of the complaint (Section 158(2) of Act No. 141/1961 Coll., the Code of Criminal Procedure).
- If you are the injured party, you may at any time during the pre-trial proceedings ask the public prosecutor to remove delays or defects in the conduct of the police (Section 157a(1) of Act No. 141/1961 Coll.).
- The injured party may challenge a resolution shelving the case by a complaint (Section 159a(7) of Act No. 141/1961 Coll.) within three days of its notification (Section 143(1) of Act No. 141/1961 Coll.).
- The detailed step-by-step procedure is covered in a separate article in this series.
5. Complaining about an officer's conduct
According to the Czech Police, a report of improper or unlawful conduct by an officer is filed with the unit where the officer serves; shortcomings in a unit's work are reported to its head. It should include your name, surname, contact address and signature, a description of what happened and what you are asking for, the officer's service number or the registration number of the police car, the place, time and witnesses. If you ask, the police will inform you of the measures taken within 30 days of receipt. In Prague this is the Regional Police Directorate of the City of Prague (Krajské ředitelství policie hlavního města Prahy), Kongresová 2, 140 21 Praha 4, e-mail [email protected], phone 974 825 009.
6. Crimes by police officers are investigated by GIBS
If you suspect an officer has committed a crime (for example, injured you without reason during an intervention), this is no longer a complaint. Facts suggesting that a crime was committed by a police officer or police employee are investigated by the General Inspectorate of Security Forces, GIBS (Section 2(1) of Act No. 341/2011 Coll.). You can also file the complaint with the public prosecutor, who must accept it (Section 158(2) of Act No. 141/1961 Coll.). Attach a medical report, any recording and the names of witnesses.
7. Sources
- Act No. 273/2008 Coll., on the Police of the Czech Republic, current version.
- Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code (občanský zákoník), current version.
- Act No. 141/1961 Coll., the Code of Criminal Procedure, current version.
- Act No. 341/2011 Coll., on the General Inspectorate of Security Forces, current version.
- Supreme Administrative Court, judgment of 21 September 2022, ref. 7 As 47/2022-44.
- Czech Police: “Jak a kde si stěžovat”, policie.gov.cz (as of 30 October 2026).
- If you are in danger right now, call the Police of the Czech Republic on 158 or the emergency line 112.