Functions of the Police in a Modern Democratic State: Essence and Classification

• Published in: Аналітично-порівняльне правознавство no. 4; pp. 40 - 44
• Main Author: Ulynets, V.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 11.09.2024
• ISSN: 2788-6018; 2788-6018
• DOI: 10.24144/2788-6018.2024.04.5

The article examines the functions of the police in the context of a modern democratic state, their essence and classification. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need for constant adaptation of law enforcement activities to the challenges of modern society, while maintaining a balance between ensuring security and respecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. The author analyzes various approaches to defining and classifying police functions presented in the works of domestic scholars. Special attention is paid to the transformation of the understanding of police functions from the Soviet period to the present, with an emphasis on their democratic orientation. The paper thoroughly examines the tasks of the National Police of Ukraine defined by legislation and their impact on shaping the functional orientation of the police. The author emphasizes the importance of preventive and prophylactic activities aimed at preventing offenses as a key function of the police in a democratic society. Based on the analysis of the regulatory framework and scientific sources, the author proposes his own classification of police functions in a modern democratic state, highlighting five main areas: preventive, protective, crime counteraction, service, and informative functions. Particular attention is paid to revealing the essence of the concept of «function» as a legal category and its specifics regarding police activities. The author emphasizes the relationship between the functions and tasks of the police, underlining that functions are derived from tasks and serve for their implementation. In the conclusions, the author offers his own definition of the concept of «functions of the police in a modern democratic state,» emphasizing their transparent formation without political bias and focus on preventing offenses, protecting the rights and legitimate interests of individuals, society, and the state.