During the Soviet era, the activities of voluntary people's дружины (vigilante groups) represented an effective and well-established system in the fight against crime and its associated manifestations.
During the Soviet era, the activities of voluntary people's дружины represented an effective and well-established system in the fight against crime and its associated manifestations. Being an assistant to law enforcement officers was considered a prestigious undertaking. Lawbreakers feared people wearing armbands. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of a number of social problems, these дружины were unjustly forgotten for a time. The decision to establish voluntary дружины in the town of Lepel was made in November 2003 in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Participation of Citizens in the Protection of Public Order" and the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus "On the Approval of the Regulations on the Procedure for the Registration of Voluntary Druziny". Time has shown that the creation of such formations has justified itself. The main task of law enforcement officers and members of voluntary дружины is to maintain public order on the streets of their native town. Currently, 26 voluntary дружины actively cooperate with police officers, of which 14 are in the city and 9 in rural areas, with a total of 147 members. These дружины are established at each enterprise, and their voluntary members conscientiously fulfill their civic duty, not just in words but in deeds. Together with police officers, дружинники check individuals on preventive records at the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs, as well as places where individuals with anti-social behaviour gather, and places of mass recreation for citizens, and participate in ensuring order on the streets of their native town. Measures have been developed at enterprises to encourage outstanding дружинники.
In just 3 months of 2021, through the joint efforts of дружина members and police officers, 5 citizens were detained for various administrative offenses. Public order was maintained during mass events, and rural culture houses were patrolled during discos, as were dormitories where students live. Work on cooperation with police officers to protect public order continues. After all, largely thanks to the common cause of maintaining law and order, citizens form a positive opinion about the work of law enforcement agencies as a whole.
Head of the Public Order and Prevention Department of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mikhno