The protection of public order and the ensuring of reliable security, the observance of legality and the strengthening of law and order in the country are impossible without the participation of citizens. An important condition for the effective activities of law enforcement agencies in preventing and eradicating crimes and eliminating their causes is the support of citizens and public formations. The population assists law enforcement agencies, including internal affairs bodies, in maintaining proper order and ensuring public safety, both individually on a voluntary basis and through public formations. Special public formations play a significant role in maintaining public order and combating crime and offenses: voluntary people's дружыны (squads) for the protection of public order, comrades' courts, as well as auxiliary police officers.

 There are 28 voluntary дружыны (squads) established and operating in our city and district, including 17 in the city and 11 in rural areas. They comprise 246 members, 142 in the city and 104 in rural areas. Last year, in joint work with the staff of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs and members of voluntary дружыны (squads), 67 offenders were detained, four calls related to domestic disputes were handled, and 24 individuals on preventive records were checked. Often, дружыннікі (squad members) are the sole witnesses to offenses and provide significant assistance in proving the guilt of an offender within the framework of administrative proceedings.

On the day of the 96th anniversary of the establishment of the Belarusian police, at the district House of Culture, the Head of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs, Mikola Latysheu, honored members of the voluntary дружыны (squads) who have made a significant contribution to ensuring public order and discipline. Among them are members of the voluntary дружына (squad) of the Borovsk Rural Executive Committee, H.H. Kamarova and V.P. Yautushenka, the commander of the voluntary дружына (squad) of the healthcare institution "Lepel Central District Hospital," N.A. Dziyemka, and the commander of the voluntary дружына (squad) of RUES, M.M. Azaronak. The reliable guardians of law and order were presented with letters of appreciation and monetary rewards.

Ihar MIKHNO,
Head of the Department
of Law and Order Protection
and Prevention
of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs.