Policemen allowed to patrol streets in plain clothes

Plainclothes police patrols appeared in the Pershamaiski and Frunzenski districts of Minsk.

According to Vitaly Nilau, the first deputy head of the patrol service of the Minsk main police department, the advantages of using plainclothes police officers are obvious, Minsk-Novosti news agency reports. Plainclothes policemen prevent more offences than their colleagues in uniform. Blending in with the crowd, they can approach offenders, follow and detain them.

“The experiment was initiated by the main department of security and crime prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” Vitaly Nulau continues. “We studied the experience of European and eastern countries where police officers patrol streets in civilian clothes.

We wanted to see a reaction of Minsk residents, who got used to see policemen in uniform. We haven't noticed misunderstandings. When police officers approached offenders and showed their police badges, the latter didn't resist and obeyed all orders.”

The experiment will last for two more weeks. Plainclothes policemen prevented dozens of cases of disorderly conduct and drinking alcohol in public places and other offences. They also visit homes on requests. Even drunken domestic offenders perceive such policemen positively.

Plainclothes police officers patrol streets at least in pairs. They have guns and walkie-talkies.

A photo from the archive