BY
Around 24th March 2015 Mayor Trukhanov contemplated the creation a
“Municipal Police/Guard” which fortunately never came to fruition – crushed by
the Interior Ministry.
Just over 1 year later, the idea is being seriously floated once again,
this time under the brand “City Watch”.
“City Watch” is being created to “help police control the city“.
It’s leadership, as is its creators, politicians from within Odessa City
Hall. City Hall deputies Sergey Chervyakov, Bogdan Giganova from
Opposition Block, Vladimir Vareschenko Block Poroshenko, Trust in Deeds
deputy Dmitry Palpatine and deputy Vladimir Kornienko from Ukrainian Marine
Party.
There is no legal basis for such an entity with regard to involvement in
law enforcement. It will have no statutory powers of stop and search, nor
any power of arrest or detention granted by law as those specifically granted
to the police. Any power of arrest is no more than the same power of
arrest granted to any citizen of Ukraine – which is limited to “found
committing” offences where circumstances in the “protection of life and
property” permits intervention.
Therefore a politically controlled mob with no legal foundation to assist
in policing, and no statutory powers to actually police may make a reader
ponder whether the city police either need or want help to “control the
city“. As this is prima facie a political project
and not an a-political institution like the police, it seems highly unlikely it
will actually benefit city policing.
What appears to be the case is another attempt to create a Praetorian Guard
for City Hall. It will come as no surprise when the police have to police
“City Watch” when its members go far beyond any legal powers they think they
may have, but actually haven’t.
There is no comfort to be taken by what appears to be cross party
leadership, for political party affiliation means nothing more than a ticket to
ride to City Hall upon. With parties devoid of ideology and the City Hall
deputy mandate for most being nothing more than membership of an elite and
often nefarious business club, any inferred “checks and balances” via rival
party ideology is an entirely false facade.
Few would be surprised if “City Watch” turns into nothing more than
rent-a-mob for vested interests.
It is unclear just what part of city life these local politicians deem to
be uncontrolled that requires “City Watch” to help control them. Mobs are
not running amok. Violent protests are not swamping nor sweeping across
the city. The only public protest gatherings are legitimate, peaceful and
ever-growing against
City Hall and Mayor Trukhanov.
Coincidence? Probably not.
Many reformers and civil activists will conclude, perhaps rightly, that the
creation of “City Watch” is nothing more than a politically controlled
rent-a-mob/titushek/illegitimate paramilitary. (“City Watch” will be staffed
by demobilised volunteer battalions.)
When Mayor Trukhanov announced the creation of a City Hall security
department, and then “City Watch” was born to “help police control the city“,
it is time to put an end to this nonsense before “City Watch” becomes an
established entity from whence there is clearly little good that is likely to
come – aside from employment for demobilized volunteer battalion personnel.
If the city politicians feel obliged to find the demobilised volunteers
work in Odessa – politically controlled pretend policemen that will be
perceived to be the Praetorian Guard and rent-a-mob of City Hall in equal
measure is not the way to do it.
All in all, this is a very, very bad idea (with potentially grievous
outcomes).
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