Central Police Office

Categories / City Administration/Government Bodies
CENTRAL POLICE OFFICE, the city administration body of St. Petersburg in the 18th century. It was instituted attached to Petersburg Chief of Police General according to the decree on city police establishment issued on June 7, 1718. Chief Police Office was in charge of all sectors of city economy, as well as of housing and architectural bureaus, fire- fighting service, police detachments, police staffs by "gathering yards" etc. Central Police Office supervised the urban planning, directed the arrangement of city cemeteries, carried out passport check, quartered soldiers etc. The chief architect of Central Police Office was actually the chief city architect. In 1737, the urban planning control issues passed under the jurisdiction of the Commission on St. Petersburg construction. The staff of the Office by the mid-18th century comprised 30 persons (while the overall police staff totaled 300 persons). In 1775 the police and Central Police Office were subordinated to the governor as a result of city government reform. After the police reform of 1782, the Central Police Office was abolished, its functions delegated to the Discipline board of the city, the latter was followed by provincial government, Public assistance board, City Duma and other institutions (in accordance with Cities letter of grant, 1785). In the mid-18th century, the Central Police Office was quartered on Moika River Embankment, in the area of Nevsky Prospect (the house was not preserved).

References: Длуголенский Я. Н. Военно-гражданская и полицейская власть Санкт-Петербурга, 1703-1917. СПб., 2001.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city
Длуголенский Я. Н. Военно-гражданская власть Санкт-Петербурга, 1703-1917. СПб., 2001 Commission for St. Petersburg Construction
Board of Decency
City Duma
1718