Board of Decency

Categories / City Administration/Police, Prisons
BOARD OF DECENCY, the main provincial (before 1871) and city police institution. It was created in 1782 in the course of the reform of police instead of the Main Police Office. Chief Policeman headed the Board of Decency and all the policemen, police officers of civil and criminal affairs as well as the Brand Major, chief police doctor and ratmans of the City administration were subordinated to him. The Board of Decency dealt with all the problems of city economy (fire safety, city sanitation, paving of streets, allotment of places for buildings etc.), and oversaw fulfilment of state and city duties. The Board was subordinated to the Senate, later - to the Governor-General. Afterwards the functions of the Board of Decency were implemented through private police officers, inspectors of blocks and lowest police ranks. Special attention was paid by the Board of Decency to measures of punishment for breaching governmental decrees and police prescriptions by the population. The Board was located at 55 Sadovaya Street, on corner of Voznesensky Avenue (the house has not survived). The Board was abolished in 1875.

Reference: Высоцкий И. П. Санкт-Петербургская столичная полиция и градоначальство, 1703-1903: Крат. ист. очерк. СПб., 1903. С. 57-66.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Sadovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 55
Voznesensky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Высоцкий И. П. Санкт-Петербургская столичная полиция и градоначальство, 1703-1903: Крат. ист. очерк. СПб., 1903 Senate
1782