Public order protection by Kharkiv region’s militia in the 20-s of the XX century

Abstract

Based on the regulations and archival documentary material, the author has studied the activities of militia in Kharkiv region in the period of its formation and development as an in-service body for keeping public order, namely in the 20-s of the XX century.

It has been indicated that at the initial stage of the Soviet militia formation, when it was not an in-service body, the main form of protecting the rights and safety of citizens was patrolling the streets by armed detachments of workers’ militia. But such organization and methods of work became ineffective very quickly. The scope of activities was expanded and working methods changed with the further development and improvement of organizational and legal forms of the activities of Kharkiv militia. Decisions on releasing militia from extrinsic functions were repeatedly made during this period; nevertheless, it was overloaded with them. According to various estimates, up to 80 % of performed work was not within the direct scope of protecting public order, which certainly had a negative effect on the state of public safety.