Unemployment rising, so Russia encourages citizen cops
The economic downturn has sparked increased crime and public unrest in Russia, and the government is responding by encouraging citizens to join the militia or form neighbourhood vigilante groups.
In the last year, Russia has seen an 10-15 percent increase in street crime. This includes 1.7 million acts of minor hooliganism, 2 million incidences of public drinking, and about 4 million detentions for public drunkenness.
The lawmakers hope to stem the tide of these growing instances of public disorder by adding to the already existing 214,000 militiamen among the 363,000 law enforcement personnel. The law gives citizens three ways to help maintain social order. A person can assist or collaborate with police organs. He could also suggest proposals to the police on issues of maintaining social order. Or interested citizens could form their own “independent groups in their place of residence” which will give them the right to use physical force and armed defense if necessary.
Russia: The new Wild West.
h/t: Global Voices
[...] UNEMPLOYMENT rising, so Russia encourages.. citizen cops? …. [...]