Legal foundations of the organization and activities of the Ukrainian SSR police in 1949–1950s

Keywords: Ukrainian SSR, Ministry of Internal Affairs, police organization, regulatory and legal basis of police activity, combating crime.

Abstract

The main aspects of the structure of the police in 1949–1950 and the main directions of its activity have been studied. The changes in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Ukrainian SSR guided by the police in the performance of their law enforcement functions have been highlighted. It has been noted that the structure of local police bodies in the regions of Ukraine in the post-war period was of the same type, but could differ depending on operational conditions in the number of regular units. The most important change in the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during this period was the transfer of the police to the Ministry of State Security in October 1949. The activities of the police were controlled and regulated by decisions and resolutions of the Communist Party of Ukraine. First of all, it concerned the selection of personnel and education of police personnel. The central governing body of the police was the Main Directorate of the Police. The police departments of the Union republics, regions, large cities, district departments and branches, military units of the police were subordinate to it. At the same time, the heads of these police bodies held the positions of deputy people’s commissars of internal affairs of the republics, heads of regional NKVD (People’s Commissary of Internal Affairs) departments, heads of departments and NKVD departments of cities and districts.

The causes of crime in the specified period have been analyzed. Considerable attention has been paid to the work of the police in combating crime, which was carried out in the following areas: 1) prevention and detection of crimes by structural units of the police (criminal investigation and fight against theft of socialist property and speculation); 2) conducting inquiries and performing a number of investigative functions. Factors that did not allow the police to fully perform their functions in the fight against crime were: 1) insufficient use of scientific and technical means; 2) lack of an extensive agent-informant network; 3) lack of professional personnel; 4) violation of “socialist legality” during inquiry and investigation; 5) involvement of operatives of criminal investigation and employees of anti-theft of socialist property and speculation of the BRSVS (the department for combating embezzlement of socialist property and speculation) to perform functions that are not specific to them. The practical activity of police bodies for the protection of public order was determined by the following directions: 1) administrative activity (patrol in populated areas, compliance with the rules of the passport and permit system, regulation of street traffic); 2) involvement of state institutions, public organizations and citizens in cooperation; 3) creation of voluntary formations - police assistance brigades and public order protection groups.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

О. V. Brusakova, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs

Doctor of Law, Associate Professor.
Faculty No. 6.

V. A. Hrechenko, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs

Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honored Education Worker of Ukraine.
Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines.

References

Arkhiiereiskyi, D. V., Bazhan, O. H., Bykova, T. V. et al. (2002). Political terror and terrorism in Ukraine. XIX–XX centuries: Historical essays (V. A. Smolii, Ed.). Scientific thought.

Bandurka, O. M. (2015). Millennium of crime in Ukraine. Golden Mile.

Bilas, I. H. (1994). Repressive and punitive system in Ukraine. 1917–1953: Socio-political and historical-legal analysis (Book 1). Lybid; Army of Ukraine.

Bortnik, O. M., & Grechenko, V. A. (2019). Organization and activity of militia in the Ukrainian SSR in 1947: basic aspects. Legal Horizons, 17(30). 7-13.

Herus, M. M. (2021). Criminal justice in the Ukrainian SSR in the post-war period (1945–1958): historical and legal research [Doctoral dissertation, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs].

Hrechenko, V. A. (Ed.). (2021). Leaders of the Kharkiv militia/police (1918–2021): historical and legal research. Maidan.

Hrechenko, V. A., & Yarmysh, O. N. (2019). Organization and activities of the Ukrainian SSR militia in 1951. Nauka i pravoohorona, 2(44), 33-44.

Lahosha, M. M. (2000). Militia of Ukraine in 1945–1953 [Candidate thesis, Donetsk State University].

Lozytskyi, V. S. (2005). Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine: history, persons, relations (1918–1991). Genesis.

Mykhailenko, P. P. (1999). Criminal law, criminal process and criminology of Ukraine (articles, reports, reviews) (Vol. 2). Genesis.

Okipniuk, V. T. (2019). Soviet state security agencies in Ukraine during the reign of the totalitarian regime (1929–1953). OLDIE PLUS.

Panin, M. (1965). Glorious path (about the activities of the militia to protect public order). Politvydav.

Prystaiko, O. V. (2021). PCIA-MIA of the Ukrainian SSR (1934–1954): structural construction and functions (historical and legal research) [Doctoral dissertation, National Academy of Internal Affairs].

Voitsekhovskyi, M. M. (2001). Legal foundations of the organization and activity of the militia of Ukraine in the post-war period (1946–1953) [Candidate dissertation, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs].

Vorozhko, V. P. (2015). Formation and development of the system of protection of state secrets in Soviet Ukraine (1919–1954) [Candidate dissertation, Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University].

Published
2022-06-30
How to Cite
BrusakovaО. V. and Hrechenko, V. A. (2022) “Legal foundations of the organization and activities of the Ukrainian SSR police in 1949–1950s”, Law and Safety, 85(2), pp. 121-130. doi: 10.32631/pb.2022.2.11.