EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
“There are dozens of people living in my area who abuse alcohol and do odd jobs. Some of them turn their homes into real hangouts, where chaos reigns, and people leading an antisocial lifestyle regularly gather. During gatherings, fights, stabbings, and thefts often occur. The police are called either by victims or neighbors dissatisfied with the noise. In any case, we take such addresses under special control and, if the owner does not correct himself, we send him to the LTP,” said Yuri Naberezhnev. – It’s more difficult to deal with family rowdies. When they drink too much, they show aggression towards their spouses, parents or children, create scandals, and threaten to use their fists. Intimidated or, as they say, unwilling to wash dirty linen in public, relatives do not report such facts to the police. Over time, unpleasant situations arise more and more often: a person simply becomes an alcoholic, confident in his impunity. As a result, the conflict can end disastrously: it is enough for the attacking or defending parties to take up a knife or grab a heavy object in the heat of battle.
Therefore, district inspectors pay great attention to the prevention of family troubles. In particular, they regularly communicate with residents in the entrusted territory, asking whether household members have problems with alcohol and related conflicts. It is also mandatory to visit persons who have committed offenses in the domestic sphere in order to prevent them from committing criminal acts.
“We have enough effective levers to help those who suffer from violence, including psychological violence. For example, if a person threatens to use his fists, we can register him for a year and carry out preventive work. We report such facts to social and other interested services so that, if necessary, they can provide assistance to the victims,” noted Yuri Naberezhnev. – If the use of physical force is recorded, we suggest that the victim issue a protective order against the offender, who may be prohibited from appearing at his place of residence for up to a month.
A huge help in the timely detection of cases of domestic violence is the concern of others. If citizens were more likely to be vigilant and report problems that regularly arise in their neighbors, many serious domestic crimes could be prevented.
“If you or your relatives have become a victim of an offense in the sphere of family and household relations, immediately contact the internal affairs agency at your place of residence,” the officer emphasized. – You should do the same if you know that there is an unfavorable situation in the family in the neighborhood, its members abuse alcohol, and the children are in a socially dangerous situation.
Photo courtesy of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Oktyabrsky District Administration of Vitebsk