Volunteer Police Assistants

During the Soviet era, the activities of voluntary public order squads constituted an effective and well-established system in the fight against crime and its associated manifestations.

During the Soviet era, the activities of voluntary public order squads constituted 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 at the time. Lawbreakers feared individuals wearing armbands. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of a number of social problems associated with it, the squads were unjustly forgotten for a time. The decision to establish voluntary squads 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 Approval of the Regulations on the Procedure for Registration of Voluntary Squads". Time has shown that the establishment of such formations has justified itself. The main task of the internal affairs officers and members of the voluntary squads is to maintain public order on the streets of their native town. Currently, 26 voluntary squads are actively cooperating with police officers, 17 of which are in the town and 9 in the rural

localities, with a total of 159 people. These volunteer squads are formed at each enterprise, whose voluntary squads conscientiously fulfil their civic duty not in words, but in deeds. The squad members, together with police officers, check individuals registered on preventive watch lists at the Lepel ROVD (District Department of Internal Affairs), as well as places where individuals with anti-social behaviour gather, places of mass recreation for citizens, and participate in ensuring order on the streets of their hometown. Measures have been developed at the enterprises to reward outstanding squad members.

Over the 12 months of 2019 alone, through the joint efforts of squad members and police officers, 40 citizens were detained for various administrative offences, and public order was maintained.

order during mass events, work with rural culture houses during discos, work with dormitories where students reside. Cooperation with police officers for public order protection continues. After all, largely thanks to the common cause of law and order protection, citizens form a positive opinion of the law enforcement agencies' work as a whole.

Head of the Public Order Protection Department of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs

Police Lieutenant Colonel, Mikhno I.A.