Research report: vulnerable social groups in police proceedings in Hungary

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has prepared a summary report on Hungarian research conducted as part of the EU-funded international PRinCE (Procedural Rights in Central Europe) project. During the study, we summarised previous research results, analysed official data provided in response to Freedom of Information data requests and consulted with representatives of civil society organisations that support vulnerable social groups. The results show that vulnerable people who come into contact with the police – including children, Roma people, refugees, people with psychosocial disabilities, or people in crisis situations – often do not benefit from the procedural guarantees to which they are entitled, making them increasingly vulnerable to police measures.

Why is it particularly important to provide proper procedural guarantees for people belonging to vulnerable social groups in the criminal procedure?

In theory, Hungary has all the EU-required safeguards to ensure fair treatment at the very start of a criminal case – when someone is stopped by the police, questioned for the first time, or told they are a suspect. These early-stage rights often fail the people who need them most, people belonging to vulnerable social groups.

What did the research reveal?

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee’s research shows a clear pattern: children, Roma people, foreign nationals, people with disabilities, and people in crisis face serious barriers long before their case reaches a courtroom. Many do not understand their rights, cannot access a lawyer in time, or are treated by the police in ways shaped by prejudice, rushed procedures, or simple lack of training.

Civil society organisations working with these groups described what this looks like day-to-day. Information is too technical to understand. Interpreters are missing or unqualified. Vulnerability – such as mental health crises, trauma, or intellectual disabilities – is frequently overlooked. Children are still interviewed without proper support. And discrimination, particularly towards Roma people and refugees, remains persistent.

These problems are not caused by a lack of rules. With some implementation problems ongoing, Hungary’s legislation largely meets EU standards. The real issue is implementation: over-stretched police officers, limited training, and institutional habits that prioritise speed over fairness.

Here you can read our full research report in Hungarian, and the short summary of the Hungarian and the Polish research paper in English.

The core message is simple: fair trial rights only work when people understand them, trust them and can use them in a meaningful way. Ensuring this demands more than procedural compliance; it requires human-centred practice. A justice system that works well for the most vulnerable ultimately works better for everyone.

Published as a part of the project Procedural Rights in Central Europe. Implementation of EU Directives on procedural rights with regards to persons from vulnerable groups in Poland and in Hungary (PRinCE), funded by the Justice Program (JUST) of the European Union (2021-2027). Project no. 101160584.