Police Departments

Categories / City Administration/Police, Prisons
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 1) city police territorial units uniting several police stations. In 1798 there were 2 police departments in St. Petersburg, with a boundary on the Neva river, at the beginning of the 19th century the third police department was formed (it covered the territory to the south from the Fontanka River), in 1880 the fourth department was added (it included suburban districts). By 1916 there were 6 police departments in Petrograd. Every police department was headed by a police officer subordinated to the chief policeman (from 1871 - to the city governor). In February 1917 police departments were abolished. 2) Structural division of police. In July 1804 St. Petersburg police was divided into 2 departments: Police of Internal Affairs (was engaged in considering reports, investigating, searching etc.) and Police of External Affairs (was engaged in everything connected with looking after the order in the city, military brigades etc.). The Police of Internal Affairs consisted of the Board of Decency, private police officers, block guards with their volunteer brigades. The Police of External Affairs consisted of policemen, the Brand Major, and police officers. Both police offices were under supervision of the Chief Policeman. In 1819, the Foreign Department was subordinated to the Office of Addresses, which was responsible for looking after registration and activities of foreign citizens in St. Petersburg. In 1866, Undercover Agent Security Department was subordinated to the city governor’s office, which was responsible for political search.

Reference: Высоцкий И. П. Санкт-Петербургская столичная полиция и градоначальство, 1703-1903: Крат. ист. очерк. СПб., 1903. С. 84-85; Органы внутренних дел: история и современность. М., 2000. С. 7-18.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Органы внутренних дел: история и современность. М., 2000
Высоцкий И. П. Санкт-Петербургская столичная полиция и градоначальство, 1703-1903: Крат. ист. очерк. СПб., 1903 Security Department