The issue of improving the effectiveness of prevention entities was considered at the meeting of the regional coordination council

A meeting of the regional coordination council was held under the chairmanship of the Prosecutor of the Vitebsk region, Vadim Sushchinsky, which considered the issue of improving the effectiveness of preventive entities in overcoming drunkenness, alcoholism among the population, crimes and other offenses committed on this basis, including by minors.

It was noted that joint efforts of preventive entities in the region have achieved certain successes in preventing and overcoming drunkenness and alcoholism among the population, and in preventing offenses and crimes committed while intoxicated.

At the same time, drunkenness, along with social dependency, remains the main breeding ground for crime, including recidivist and juvenile crime.

The fact that the problem of excessive alcohol consumption has recently acquired a large-scale character is evidenced by statistical data. Thus, if in 2018 in the Vitebsk region the number of crimes committed while intoxicated decreased by 4.4%, including a decrease in their share from 21.8% to 21.5%, which was the best indicator for the last 5 years, then in the current year, an increase in this type of crime occurred both on a republican scale and in the Vitebsk region (+35.6%, from 611 to 829).

A negative trend is noted in the increased number of crimes in the Vitebsk region related to criminal investigation, committed while intoxicated (+29.5%). For 5 months of 2019, 48% of registered murders and 30% of intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm were committed while intoxicated. The number of crimes committed while intoxicated by persons with a criminal record increased by 34%.

These negative trends are largely due to the formal, ineffective work of local executive authorities in a number of regions in fulfilling the tasks of the subprograms of the State Program "People's Health and Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020".

There are shortcomings in the activities of public order protection councils in preventing crimes and offenses committed by citizens residing in their territories while intoxicated.

Significant violations in preventive work are allowed by internal affairs bodies, for example, when deciding on the possibility of sending citizens to LTP (medical and labor dispensaries), and preparing relevant materials.

Speakers at the meeting specifically drew attention to the shortcomings and omissions in the work of individual services and officials, which must be eliminated in the near future.

"Everything lies in discipline and order, proper organization of control by leaders in the right teams on the ground," summed up the regional prosecutor Vadim Sushchinsky.

Based on the results of the discussion, the coordination meeting adopted a relevant decision, and specific measures were developed aimed at increasing the effectiveness of preventive activities in this area of work.

Head of the Organizational and Control Department of the Regional Prosecutor's Office
I. Morozov