The Soviet Criminal Investigation Department established

On October 5, 1918 in order to protect the revolutionary order by investigation of crimes of penal character and to fight gangsterism, the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of RSFSR approved the statute ‘On foundation of Criminal Investigation Department’. This document had become a legal basis for creating a criminal investigation service in Russian police.

The agencies of Criminal Investigation Department were established in towns with the population of no less than 40-45 thousand. The guidance of Criminal Investigation Department was provided by the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs. All the issues regarding the formation of Criminal Investigation Department personnel were considered by the Central police administration of RSFSR together with local Councils.

At first the Criminal Investigation Department dealt with political enemies’ control. However in the beginning of 1920s its main goal was to struggle with organized criminal societies and big gangsters’ units.

In January of 1919 by the direct order of the Soviet Russia Peoples’ Council Commissariat President V.I. Lenin there was developed the common plan of fighting measures against gangsterism in the new capital – Moscow. According to this plan the entire responsibility for fighting with criminals was charged upon the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department.

The first police agents were obliged to struggle with hardened criminals, with gangsters’ units, with intervention. The agents disarmed the White Guardists’ groups, took part in the officials’ sabotage suppression, protected the social order and fought all kinds of crimes. Not having particular knowledge and experience, the agents of Criminal Investigation Department had been learning the details of their work in the process and had often been obliged to ask for help the experts of pre-revolutionary Russia.

Lit.: Московскому уголовному розыску — 90 лет! // Петровка, 38. 2008. 2 окт. (№ 35 (92)); Полиция и милиция России: страницы истории. М., 1995; Советская милиция: история и современность 1917—1987 гг. М., 1987.