The Prosecutor's Office demands to strengthen preventive work with repeat offenders in the Vitebsk region
In the Vitebsk region, law enforcement officers and other relevant agencies need to strengthen preventive work with previously convicted individuals, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by Sergey Selikhanov, Deputy Head of the Department for Supervision of Legality of Judicial Decisions in Criminal Cases of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.
According to him, the main factor contributing to the increase in murders and attempted murders in the region is precisely the insufficient preventive and explanatory work by the police and other prevention entities, the lack of their systematic engagement with previously convicted individuals, as well as citizens who have been held administratively liable. Sergey Selikhanov recalled that over the past year, 12.4 thousand crimes were committed in the region, which is 23.3% lower than in 2011. Alongside this, the number of murders increased by 10.2% to 54 incidents. An increase in these crimes is noted in the Zheleznodorozhny and Pervomaysky districts of Vitebsk, Beshenkovichsky, Braslavsky, Vitebsky, Gluboksky, Gorodoksky, Postavsky, Rossonksy, Tolochinsky, Chashniksky, Sharkovshchinsky, Shumilinsky districts, and Polotsk.
"An analysis of murders and attempted murders showed that in most cases, the perpetrators had previously been held administratively or criminally liable, or had come to the attention of law enforcement officers, and were unemployed. The absolute majority of crimes (46, or 86.8%) were committed while intoxicated," the interlocutor stated. He also emphasized that understated control over the behavior of individuals in this category is one of the main conditions contributing to the commission of crimes. Furthermore, individuals with alcohol dependence or mental disorders who have previously been convicted of crimes involving offenses against life and health require increased attention from law enforcement agencies.
Sergey Selikhanov also focused on the victims of criminals. Thus, a significant portion of those affected by criminal encroachments are elderly and old people. In their relationship with the perpetrators, 14 victims had not known them before, 28 knew them, 6 were related, and 7 cohabited. Moreover, murders of relatives and cohabitants were usually preceded by numerous conflicts, long-standing animosity, incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol abuse. In some cases, the criminal encroachment was provoked by the victims themselves. Among the main motives for committing murders and attempted murders are long-standing personal animosity, sudden quarrels, and conflicts on a domestic basis.