Subjects of police activity in the Russian Far East in the late 19th – early 20th century

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the influence of the functioning environment in the Far Eastern region on the peculiarities of the police activity of local units of the state apparatus of the Russian Empire in the late 19^th – early 20^th century.

Methodology. Based on the analysis of archival sources, normative legal acts of the Russian Empire and scientific research of domestic police scientists, the problem of protecting public order and combating crime in the Russian Far East, the influence of regional peculiarities on the functioning of police and other state bodies, as well as local self-government bodies and law enforcement-oriented public formations is considered.

Results. It is concluded that the subjects of police activity in the Russian Far East at the end of the 19^th – beginning of the 20^th century should include not only police agencies, but also a fairly wide range of other state bodies, local self-government bodies, public formations. Without their participation, the local police would hardly be able to cope with a large number of challenges and threats that have a diverse nature and harm not only the rights and legitimate interests of individuals, public order and public security in the region, but sometimes also the national security of Russia in the Far East. This practice was a forced way out of a difficult situation and, although the local leaders understood its inferiority, circumstances did not give them another option.

Research implications. The theoretical substantiation of the regularity of the emergence of the peculiarities of police activity in the Russian Far East in the late 19^th – early 20^th century, in particular, the practice of assigning police duties to other state bodies, local self-government bodies and public formations of law enforcement orientation, is presented.