PREVENTIVE POLICE ACTIVITIES: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF FORMING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the role of the preventive activity units of the National Police of Ukraine as key subjects of the implementation of state policy in the field of forming a security environment. The paper reveals the theoretical principles of the preventive function of the police, its place in the system of public administration and interaction with the public. Special attention is paid to the practical aspects of the activities of preventive units, in particular, the implementation of innovative approaches to crime prevention, the development of partnerships with the population, local authorities, and public organizations. The work reveals the theoretical foundations of the preventive function of the police, determining its place in the system of public administration and interaction with the public. The authors emphasize that effective prevention should combine legal, organizational, and socio-psychological mechanisms aimed at reducing crime and increasing public trust in law enforcement agencies. The authors identify a number of systemic problems that complicate police activities in the field of prevention. Among them are terminological uncertainty in the legislation, the lack of unified subordinate legis- lation, which leads to duplication of functions, as well as problems with information exchange and formal involvement of civil society organizations. Particularly critical is the low level of involvement of rural communities due to limited resources.The conclusions emphasize that preventive activity units play a key role in shaping the security environment, performing functions not only of control, but also of social partnership and communication with citizens. In conditions of martial law, when the risks of domestic violence and criminalization increase, preventive activities become a guarantor of social stabil- ity at the community level. The work substantiates the directions for improving regulatory and organizational mechanisms that will contribute to deepening the interaction of the police with local government bodies and civil society institutions.In recent years, one of the officially defined priorities of the National Police of Ukraine has been the formation of a safe educational environment. This direction is implemented through a set of measures aimed at combating bullying, domestic violence, and other socially dangerous phenomena. As stated on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in the speeches of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine I.V. Klymenko, the development of the Concept of the Secu- rity Environment in Ukraine until 2026 involves the active implementation of preventive measures, which makes the topic particularly relevant.