A Useful Discussion
Recently, an off-site meeting of the regional prosecutor's office board was held at the district executive committee, where the results of a comprehensive inspection of the organization of work of the Beshenkovichi district prosecutor's office were reviewed, and reports from District Prosecutor A.S. Shklyarevsky and other officials on measures taken to strengthen law and order were heard.
The discussion showed that state authorities and public organizations in the region have done much to implement the tasks arising from the requirements of the Republic of Belarus laws "On the Fundamentals of Crime Prevention Activities," "On Local Government and Self-Government in the Republic of Belarus," and other regulatory legal acts.
Issues of strengthening public safety and discipline, and improving the effectiveness of preventive activities have been repeatedly considered at meetings of the district executive committee, sessions of the district Council of Deputies, operational meetings, and councils of public law enforcement points.
Many events were held at the initiative of the district prosecutor's office.
The work performed has ensured a stable operational environment.
However, the state of law and order requires continued active preventive work by all prevention entities to protect the lives and health of citizens and the economic interests of the state. Especially since certain criminological indicators are a cause for concern.
In particular, 5 grave and especially grave crimes were registered in the district, including one murder. The high crime rate per 10,000 population remains at 56.0, which is higher than the regional average.
The number of crimes committed by persons with a criminal record also increased, with the proportion of such crimes reaching 38.7%. It is noteworthy that more than 80% of these individuals were unemployed, abused alcoholic beverages, which ultimately led to the commission of repeat offenses.
In this regard, Regional Prosecutor G.I. Dysko drew the attention of the district prosecutor, the head of the district police department, the chairman of the supervisory commission of the district executive committee, and other prevention entities to the need to improve work on preventing recidivism, actively using all legal means related to the social adaptation and employment of citizens returning from correctional institutions.
The activities of prevention entities in preventing crimes against the life and health of citizens need improvement.
Over the past 5 years, 7 murders and 10 serious bodily injuries have been committed in the Beshenkovichi district.
Materials from criminal cases indicate that murders and other crimes against individuals are usually committed on domestic grounds after drinking alcohol, and many of them occur against the backdrop of unprofessional actions by officials of prevention entities, in the absence of proper interaction between internal affairs bodies, rural executive committees, healthcare institutions, social protection, and education.
Given the circumstances, it is necessary to constantly improve the work of public law enforcement centers, promptly identify problematic citizens who abuse alcohol, are prone to violent acts, and engage in their prevention: treat them for alcoholism, compel them to work, and control their behavior at home. Those who do not respond to preventive measures should be promptly referred for alcoholism treatment to a medical-labor dispensary (LTP) or, if there are grounds, brought to criminal responsibility under Articles 153, 154, 186 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
At the board meeting, it was emphasized that employees of the prosecutor's office, executive committee, police, village elders, and deputies need to pay special attention to ensuring the safety of lonely elderly citizens living in rural areas. They should not feel forgotten and defenseless, especially in those settlements where individuals prone to exploiting their helpless state for their own selfish purposes live nearby. Any attempts at extortion of money or theft of property should be stopped immediately. Criminal cases of this category should be heard publicly in circuit court sessions so that everyone is aware of the strict liability for such crimes.
Also, issues of preventing deaths due to fires, drownings, and road traffic accidents should be in focus.
Specifically, this year, the situation on the district's roads significantly worsened: the number of road traffic accidents more than doubled, and the number of fatalities and injuries increased. Two incidents were committed by drivers who were intoxicated.
In this situation, the traffic police (GAI) leadership was advised to tighten control over road traffic discipline, increase demands not only on road users but also on the heads of organizations that own vehicles. They should react in the most principled way to instances of driving while intoxicated.
Currently, issues of property and financial security have become particularly relevant.
Over recent years, the district prosecutor's office has repeatedly pointed out to the heads of agricultural enterprises, as well as the executive committee leadership, violations of property preservation legislation during sowing campaigns, harvesting of new crops, and during the storage of machinery after agricultural work, as outlined in submissions to the chairman of the district executive committee, the heads of JSC "ASB Agro-Novator," State Enterprise "Politotdelets-Agro," and other farms.
It is also necessary to put an end to the vicious practice of dismantling new agricultural machinery, ensure the implementation of the Head of State's directive on reviving "rayagroservice" enterprises in each district with their former functions aimed at prompt and high-quality fulfillment of orders from agro-industrial complex organizations for equipment repair and spare parts supply.
The Department of Agriculture and Food of the district executive committee was required to organize strict control over compliance with the technology of maintenance and storage of agricultural machinery. Eliminate instances of mismanagement and irrational use of inventory.
Overall, the comprehensive inspection showed that all state bodies of the district need to continue active work on implementing program objectives stemming from the Directives of the President of the Republic of Belarus and other regulatory legal acts, fully utilizing their granted powers to strengthen legality and law and order.
Head of the Organizational and Control Department
of the Prosecutor's Office of Vitebsk Region
Senior Counselor of Justice I.N. Bogachev