Activities Of Law Enforcement Agencies Research Articles

Возможности применения технологии айтрекинга в деятельности правоохранительных органов (на примере зарубежных стран)

Introduction. The law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation widely use a polygraph in solving and investigating crimes as part of psychophysiological research. However, a number of foreign countries are actively conducting research on implementing new psychophysiological technologies in the practical activities of law enforcement officers. One of such technologies is the eye-tracker. The article describes the experience of applying the technology of eye-tracking in the professional activities of law enforcement officers for solving and investigating crimes, in particular, for assessing the reliability of the reported information, revealing hidden information, as well as identifying information about previously perceived persons and objects on the example of foreign countries. These provisions determine the purpose of our research - the generalisation and analysis of foreign experience of applying the technology of eye-tracking in the activities of law enforcement agencies. Methods. General scientific research methods such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction and description were used in the research. Results. The current state of theoretical and methodological ideas about eye-tracking, as well as areas of its application, methodological and procedural features of its use in the activities of law enforcement agencies of foreign countries was determined.

Quick installation technology DNA profile – Rapid DNA

The investigation of criminal offenses requires modern, up-to-date, practical means. The ANDE Rapid DNA Identification System is a new technology that generates a DNA ID from forensic samples in less than two hours. In today’s conditions, its use in forensics, practical activities of law enforcement agencies on a permanent basis is very relevant. ANDE technology is specially designed and proven to be robust, mobile and suitable for use in harsh environments.
 The National Police of Ukraine is tasked with the enormous task of identifying victims of horrific crimes related to the ongoing war with russia. Over the past year, it has been proven that a significant percentage of these victims cannot be identified through forensic DNA alone, given her critical condition. The enormous amount of forensic DNA processing work required to address this situation far exceeds the capabilities of traditional DNA laboratory infrastructure. In addition, the logistical overhead associated with managing the efficient storage, movement, tracking, and provenance of large numbers of bodies or even DNA samples across wide geographic areas causes significant wastage of critical resources and long delays. ANDE technology accelerates DNA processing from months or even years to less than two hours. Forensic specialists use mobile DNA laboratories to identify dead. Today, the National Police operates 32 mobile laboratories. Rapid DNA’s secure, field-ready mobile systems provide the most accurate and efficient DNA identification results.
 Thus, the main goal of this study is to provide practical recommendations for forensic support for the use of rapid DNA profiling technology, using Rapid DNA as an example, in pre-trial investigation.
 The stated provisions and practical recommendations in the article are relevant in the context of the use of modern technologies by practical workers.

Deyatel'nost' pravoohranitel'nyh organov Rossijskoj imperii na territorii Kitajskoj respubliki (1912–1917 gg.)

The article discusses the activities of law enforcement agencies and special services of the Russian Empire - the headquarters of the Trans-Amur District of the Border Guard, the Shanghai residency of the Ministry of Finance and the gendarmerie and police department of the Chinese Eastern Railway on the territory of the Republic of China on the eve and during the First World War. It is concluded that an important component of the task of these units was to counter international criminal communities operating both in Russia and in China.

Strategic directions for improving the administrative and legal regulation of the activities of law enforcement agencies as subjects of the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of national security and defense

Introduction. Law enforcement agencies as subjects of formation and implementation of state policy in the field of national security and defense must have an appropriate organizational and legal framework for carrying out their activities. This involves two separate important directions of optimization of the current process of administrative and legal regulation of their activities, which is collectively objectified by the need to review scientific and normative discourses regarding the place and role of law enforcement agencies in the mechanism of ensuring national security of Ukraine. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the strategic directions of improving the administrative and legal regulation of the activities of law enforcement agencies as subjects of the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of national security and defense. Results. Since law enforcement agencies in the researched area are generally divided into those that are independent or structural within the representative body - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, we believe that the formation of a separate independent authority in the proposed context is generally inappropriate, as well as the granting of such powers to already existing ones. Conclusions. Law enforcement agencies should be provided with the ability to effectively influence various aspects of the country's security from the position of functional unity, which will allow them to strategically and functionally solve issues of national security and defense of Ukraine. We have proposed an author's variation of improving the administrative and legal regulation of the activities of law enforcement agencies as subjects of the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of national security and defense with emphasis on the need to create a specialized state entity - the Center for Coordination and Interaction of Law Enforcement Activities under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, which will represent the institute of law enforcement activities in Ukraine.

Combating Economic Crime in Ukraine In Conditions of Sustainable Development

Purpose: The study is devoted to clarifying the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the field of prevention and counteraction of economic crime, determining the directions of transformation of individual agencies in order to improve the efficiency of their activities in this area. Methods: The methodological basis of the study was general philosophical and general scientific methods of learning phenomena and processes: theoretical generalization, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systematization, analogy, systematization, generalization, bibliometric analysis, modeling. Results and discussion: It was established that economic crimes are threats to the economic security of the state, consisting in the implementation of illegal economic activity (economic processes, relations, operations) or violation of requirements for legal economic activity to satisfy the selfish interests of a person or a group of persons. The specific features of economic crime prevention and counteraction entities that implement the law enforcement function in Ukraine as a component of economic security in conditions of sustainable development are highlighted. The procedure and forms of interaction of law enforcement agencies in the specified area under martial law conditions have been determined. Proposals were made to the legislation to increase the efficiency of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine as an analytical law enforcement agency in countering economic criminal offenses. Implications of the research: This research has theoretical and applied significance. From the theoretical side - to determine the essence and content of economic crime, to clarify the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the field of prevention and counteraction of economic crime. From a practical point of view, proposals of a theoretical, methodological and legislative nature will contribute to the development of the most effective ways of combating crime in this area, will help to understand the place and role of such a law enforcement body with a special status as the Bureau of Economic Security in the specified activity of the state. Originality/value: The tasks of law enforcement agencies in combating economic crimes in the conditions of martial law and hybrid warfare are becoming extremely important in many countries, as they are aimed at ensuring the financing of defense capabilities and ensuring sustainable development. The author's proposals formulated in the research will contribute to the understanding of economic crime, form an idea about the powers and directions of improvement of the activities of law enforcement agencies in combating crime in this area.

Use of chipping technology and DNA identification in identifying a minor: a review

This study examines the possibility of using juvenile offender identification technologies such as chipping and DNA identification. Chipping requires finding a balance between security and respect for the child’s privacy. The use of newer genetic technologies is promising. The creation of a DNA database contributes to the improvement of law enforcement agencies, especially by increasing the possibility of criminal identification. However, the collection of genetic material from minors is challenging for several reasons, which requires ways to overcome them.
 To study the problems and prospects of the use of information and communication technologies in the identification of juvenile offenders in Kazakhstan, a comparative legal analysis is used, which allows to identify the possibility of using chipping and genomic identification. Currently, the Kazakhstani society rejects the possibility of chipping people, much less children. Therefore, it is crucial to consider all aspects and carefully analyze possible consequences before deciding on this technology.
 Presently, the activity of law enforcement agencies of the republic is unthinkable without the use of information technologies. To improve this process, new modern systems of personal identification and a database of biometric parameters should be developed. The main obstacle of chipping in minors in any of its variants (implanting a chip under the skin or sewing it into school uniforms) is legislative regulation and ethical barriers, whereas the unique biometric technology — DNA identification — has several advantages in establishing the identity of citizens, including minors. In this regard, there is a need for a unified legislative regulation of state biometric registration.
 The comparative analysis of technologies showed that DNA identification is a more promising and regulated procedure at this stage. Thus, possible directions for the use of this method in the course of establishing the identity of a minor are described.

Use of an underwater drone during the study of drowned bodies: a review

This article describes the effectiveness of an unmanned underwater vehicle (underwater drone) in searching for drowned people in reservoirs and the impact of an underwater drone on the production of forensic medical examination in drowning.
 The article considers the norms of legislation that regulate the procedure for using an underwater drone in the criminalistic support of crime investigations.
 This study considered the norms of legislation that regulate the use of scientific and technical means in criminology and scientific publications of researchers in the field of forensic medical examination. A SWOT analysis of the use of an underwater drone to improve the quality of crime investigation was performed. The results of the study revealed the positive and negative aspects of the use of an underwater drone in investigations.
 Based on the results of generalization of scientific papers and analysis of the use of scientific and technical means in the activities of law enforcement agencies in foreign countries, the use of an underwater drone for examining corpses in water was proposed. An underwater drone can reach places inaccessible to humans and help identify key details of the crime. During investigation of drowning crimes, underwater drones enables the analysis of the condition of the victim’s body without bringing it to the surface, which facilitates further investigation.

Law enforcement bodies of Ukraine

Based on the analysis of legal acts and different opinions of domestic legal scholars, who in their works investigated the issues of the system of law enforcement agencies of the state, determined the prospects for improving the activities of law enforcement agencies, it was established that law enforcement agencies of Ukraine occupy a central place in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, ensuring public security and law and order, protection and protection of the state border, protection of the interests of society and the state, and, if necessary, measures of state coercion are applied. Attention is drawn to certain debatable points related to the assignment of this or that state body to the system of law enforcement agencies. The problematic issue is that the law enforcement function, which is used in a broad sense, is used not only for law enforcement agencies, but also for other executive authorities. It was emphasized that one of the problematic issues that researchers pay attention to is the absence of a legislative definition of the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, which leads to numerous scientific discussions, as a result of which some scientists refer to the system of law enforcement agencies as state agencies whose main task is performance of other tasks of the state, at the same time they perform only separate law enforcement works, scientists have proven that in the majority of administrative scientists operate with legislative acts, in which the legislator, based on the specifics of the law enforcement body, indicates that one or another state body is law enforcement body, at the same time there are opposing opinions. It was concluded that until the legislator resolves the issue of defining the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, the aforementioned will affect the ability to properly ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. In order to determine the system of law enforcement agencies of the state, it is necessary to resolve this issue at the legislative level. Specific proposals for improving the activities of law enforcement agencies are offered.

Legal Basis for The Activities of Law Enforcement Agencies Under the Legal Regime of Martial Law

Problematic issues related to the legal basis of the activities of law enforcement agencies under the legal regime of martial law are caused by significant threats to Ukrainian statehood, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. These aspects have become particularly acute after February 24, 2022, as a result of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, which determines the relevance of the topic. The purpose of the study is to determine the legal basis for the activities of law enforcement agencies under the legal regime of martial law in the light of the latest socio-economic, ideological and security issues. Such methods as analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, logical and legal method and forecasting were used in the article. Within the scope of the study, separate organizational and legal principles were singled out, which most widely illustrate the depth of changes in the activities of law enforcement agencies under martial law. The principle of situational implementation of new services to help the population is reduced to the fact that law enforcement personnel provided services to accommodate the population in shelters, provide drinking water and food to vulnerable groups, etc. The rule here is that for there to be an effective content in countering a separation, there is that need in revealing the prism's that exist which will be able in preventing the measures used in preventing armed group which to a greater extent will continue to be a threat in State's building a stable foreign policies.

Problems of Countering Social Engineering Technologies as an Element of Criminal Activity

The article examines the problems of countering social engineering technologies as an element of criminal activity and suggests ways to solve them. The circumstances that cause an increased public danger of criminal activity, the method of which is social engineering technologies, have been identified. Among these circumstances, the following are investigated: the variability and diversity of methods used by criminals to commit socially dangerous acts and harm the victim; the reasons for the high latency of these crimes; the high prevalence of such crimes in various areas of criminal activity, especially related to the use of information and telecommunication networks and IT technologies. A range of problems is described, the solution of which will increase the effectiveness of countering crimes, the methods of which are social engineering. Among the identified problems are: the lack of terminological certainty; the lack of “information hygiene” among most citizens; insufficient consideration of the psychological characteristics of the target victim as a victim factor that determines the choice of specific methods of social engineering in relation to this victim. The article analyzes the activities of law enforcement agencies for the prevention of crimes, the method of which is social engineering, in order to increase the effectiveness of combating them. The potential possibilities of increasing the victimological safety of “risk groups” from crimes committed using “manipulative” information systems and methods are revealed.

Psychological foundations of communication in operational and investigative activities of law enforcement agencies

Relevance. Investigative work involves creating contact between representatives of law enforcement agencies and persons of interest. It builds extremely complex system based on functional and psychological actions. This complexity embraces constant changes in society, which makes the study relevant. The shift in the mind-set of criminal offenders changes attitude of law enforcement agencies in carrying out investigative actions.Purpose. The aim of the paper was to establish the psychological approaches, which would enable effective communication between the criminal subject and the representative of the law enforcement authority.Methodology. The authors used the method of analysis and synthesis, comparison, deduction, formal and legal method and generalisation method. They concluded that a law enforcement officer faces a number of problems and challenges that require a high level of psychological skill development when carrying out investigative activities.Results. The researchers confirmed that the successful work of a law enforcement official directly depends on the integrity of the socio-psychological and physiological profile. The enforcement officers seek high motivation to achieve the desired outcome, self-confidence, positive self-esteem, strive for self-development, self-determination and high degree of adaptation to external factors and stimuli. The authors determined that communication with potential perpetrators requires special approaches on the part of law enforcement officials, notably psychological tools to obtain the necessary information and to establish a quality contact.Conclusions. The results obtained during the work can be applicable to develop training materials for law enforcement officers to raise their skills, as well as for further scientific research on the topic.

Ways to improve administrative and legal ensuring the activities of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine

It is emphasized that domestic law enforcement agencies occupy a central place in the implementation of law enforcement activities. With the aim of researching the legal perspective ways of improving the administrative and legal support of the activities of law enforcement agencies, the author carried out an analysis of law enforcement activities, including the violation by law enforcement agencies and their officials of the rights and freedoms of people and citizens, the norms of current domestic and international legislation, as well as various circles scientists who in their writings explored the prospects for improving the activities of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. It is emphasized that as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the introduction of the martial law regime and the associated socio-economic crisis, the unequal approach to the regulatory and legal regulation of the status and the organizational and legal support of the activities of law enforcement agencies, along with other factors, have a negative impact on protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens, the fight against crime and the security of the state, which in turn puts forward demands for ways to improve the activity of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine under the introduction of the martial law regime. Attention is drawn to the fact that many domestic jurists have researched the problematic issues of law enforcement agencies. The works of individual legal scientists who studied the activities of domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies and who proposed various ways to improve the activities of domestic law enforcement agencies are briefly presented. Based on the analysis of scientific works, it was established that the majority of scientists are concerned about the current state of law enforcement agencies and point to the need to build a model of a law enforcement agency system that would be able to ensure the rights and freedoms of people and citizens guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. It was concluded that the considered issues lead to the formation of an effective legal mechanism for improving the administrative and legal support of the activities of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, and specific proposals for improving their activities are offered.

ԱՊԱՑՈՒՅՑՆԵՐԻ ԳՆԱՀԱՏՈՒՄԸ ԵԶՐԱՓԱԿԻՉ ԴԱՏԱԿԱՆ ԱԿՏ ԿԱՅԱՑՆԵԼԻՍ

Proving is one of the fundamental institutions of the science of criminal procedure and criminal procedural legislation. The process of proving as a complex type of cognitive and creative activity of law enforcement agencies consists of collecting, securing, checking and evaluating evidence in order to establish the circumstances to be established in a criminal case. The institution of evidence and the law of evidence in general received further development and improvement in the new Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia (adopted on June 30, 2021, came into force on July 1, 2022). In the article, the author examines current issues of assessing evidence in the final judicial act. Evaluation of evidence, as an element of the process of proof, is a mental, logical activity, as a result of which the court makes a conclusion about the admissibility, relevance, reliability of each of the pieces of evidence, and the sufficiency of the combination of evidence to reveal the circumstances entering into the subject of proof. In the final judicial acts, the courts are obliged to refer separately to the evidence available in the criminal proceedings and examined during the main proceedings, giving them separate evaluations, and based on the systematic analysis of the examined evidence and the perspective of their integrity, to consider the accusation presented to the accused justified, or to recognize the latter as not guilty. . Courts in their final judicial acts are obliged to fix and evaluate the evidence on which the court’s conclusions are based in terms of admissibility, relevancy and credibility, as well as specify the arguments for considering this or that evidence unreliable. Otherwise, the evaluation of the evidence, as a result of which the formation of the relevant internal conviction of the courts will be subjective in nature, will lead to arbitrariness and the violation of the right of a person to a fair trial, limiting the possibilities of the superior courts to check the legality and justification of the judicial act.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW NORMS INTO NATIONAL LEGISLATION REGULATING THE ACTIVITIES OF JOINT INVESTIGATION TEAMS

In the world, the introduction of international legal standards into national legislation creates the nessesity to take a fresh look at the issues of bringing laws into line with them. Bringing national legislation and relevant regulations into line with international standards, in turn, requires improving legislation related to ensuring the activities of law enforcement agencies, especiallythe rights and interests of persons who have committed crime. The Republic of Uzbekistan, as a sovereign state, as a full member of the international community, fulfills the obligations provided for by international law, in particular, we can achieve the preservation of international peace and security, respect for human rights, etc. In this article, the author scientifically substantiated the organizational and legal aspects of the implementation in the Republic of Uzbekistan of international acts regulating the activities of joint investigative groups. Some thoughts and opinions have been put forward on the further development of this activity.

FEATURES OF ANALYSIS AND MODELING OF MANAGEMENT PROCESSES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

In this work, the author attempted to reveal the importance of management issues in various spheres of activity and the peculiarities of management in the law enforcement sphere. A look at the origin and development of a scientific approach to the management process is given. The complexity, multi-component, and dynamism of the social management system, which is determined by the characteristics and nature of its components, is emphasized. The above determines the use of a system approach that is optimally suited for the analysis and research of complex objects and relationships, taking into account ara large number of dynamic variables. The author noted that in the field of law enforcement, a number of factors and conditions must be constantly analyzed to forecast changes, develop the external environment, and ensure the effective operation of relevant bodies. This emphasizes the importance and necessity of using analysis both in the activities of law enforcement agencies and in the management processes of this area. Its indisputable importance for strategic management and ensuring long-term effective activity of law enforcement agencies is emphasized. The peculiarities of the application of SWOT analysis, which allows to investigate of the impact of external and internal factors on the object, taking into account its weaknesses and strengths, are revealed. Modeling is considered an important component of system analysis and a general scientific management method. Attention is paid to the specifics of the use of this method when the model acts as a scientific tool and a means of scientific knowledge. The author paid attention to the types of models, their purpose, and features of application in management processes.

Ukrainian Experience In The Usage Of Profiling For Revealing Criminal Offenses

Profiling, as a modern technology, is widely employed in operational-investigative activities of law enforcement agencies for the detection and investigation of criminal offenses. This system, comprising social and psychological techniques, facilitates the diagnosis of personal characteristics, peculiarities of hidden motives, and the assessment of information. Moreover, it enables the prediction of scenarios, behavioral patterns, and communication styles in various situations. Criminal profiling holds particular significance in crafting a psychological portrait of a suspect involved in a series of crimes.
 However, the use of profiling in law enforcement presents certain challenges. Although a psychological profile and its utilization cannot serve as direct evidence in legal proceedings, they are successfully used in search, detective, and investigative activities to identify criminals and prevent crime. When employing the profiling technique to interact with individuals crossing state borders, operatives have the opportunity to identify criminal intentions or instances of criminal activity. Additionally, profiling can be applied to prevent illegal actions and ensure public safety at transportation infrastructure facilities and during cultural events.

EPISTEMOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE-LEGAL PRINCIPLES IN RESEARCH ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

This research delves into the evolving epistemological foundations of administrative-legal principles within the domain of law enforcement agencies. A meticulous analysis of over 200 scholarly works, with a specific focus on more than ten dissertations, has been conducted to illuminate the essence and content of activities undertaken by law enforcement agencies. The study offers a comprehensive un-derstanding of administrative-legal principles, encompassing their functions, forms, methods of opera-tion, and their legal underpinnings as reflected in sectoral legislative acts. The investigation explores the concept of „administrativelegal principles” and establishes its intricate interrelations with key cate-gories in administrative law, such as „principles of administrative law,” „legal regulation,” and „admin-istrative-legal norms.” Findings reveal that administrative-legal principles form a cohesive system in-fluencing the functions, forms, and methods of operation employed by law enforcement agencies. Key outcomes of the study emphasize the paramount importance of delving into administrative-legal principles within the specific context of law enforcement agencies. A nuanced examination of their functions, forms, and methods of operation underscores their critical role. This research advocates for understanding administrative-legal principles as foundational elements of administrative law, shedding light on their pivotal function in regulating the multifaceted activities of law enforcement agencies.

Principles of activity of law enforcement bodies

Based on the research of scientific opinions, the new administrative-legal doctrine, the analysis of domestic and international legislation, the article examines the key fundamentals of administrative-legal support for the activities of law enforcement agencies. Considering the fact that domestic law enforcement agencies and their officials have constant relations with citizens in their activities, it is emphasized that modern principles of administrative law should play an important role in these relations, which is the purpose of the work. The methodological basis of the work is the provisions of the modern theory of scientific knowledge of legal and social phenomena. In the course of writing the article, general philosophical, general scientific, logical and special legal methods of scientific knowledge were used. The main international principles and standards that determine the content of the activities of law enforcement agencies in international agreements ratified by Ukraine are highlighted. Based on the analysis of the legislation, the modern principles of the National Police, as one of the leading law enforcement agencies of the state, are considered. An important place is given to the characteristics of foreign legal acts aimed at ensuring and protecting the rights of citizens by law enforcement officials. For this purpose, international legal acts, which are one of the main sources of legal regulation of relations arising in the activities of law enforcement agencies, were analyzed. They establish the norms and principles of behavior of an official of a law enforcement agency for the performance of professional activities in relations with citizens and the rules of conduct binding on them in specific conditions of law enforcement activity. The need to introduce special principles of administrative law into the activities of law enforcement agencies is substantiated. On this basis, the following special principles have been researched, substantiated in detail and recommended: the principle of ensuring trust; the principle of ensuring human rights; the principle of providing access to information technologies; the principle of ensuring the confidentiality of information. These principles correspond to the domestic administrative-legal doctrine, international standards and principles, legal relations of officials of law enforcement agencies, which can be an important direction of the new administrative-legal doctrine of law- enforcement agencies.

International standards of observance of the rights and freedoms of citizens in the activities of law enforcement bodies of Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of compliance with international standards of human and citizen rights and freedoms by law enforcement agencies and their officials. For this purpose, an analysis of foreign legal acts, in particular, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, ratified by Ukraine, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, domestic legislation and scientific opinions, was carried out. It was emphasized that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines international standards for observing the rights and freedoms of citizens and is directly related to the activities of law enforcement agencies. It is emphasized that the implementation of the constituent function requires law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the rights and freedoms of citizens during the performance of their daily tasks. In order to clarify the regulatory support in the field of observance of the rights and freedoms of citizens, special legislative acts regulating the activities of: the National Police, the Security Service, the State Border Guard Service, the State Criminal Enforcement Service, the Bureau of Economic Security, the State Guard, the Military Law and Order Service were analyzed, of the State Bureau of Investigation, which the author attributes to the law enforcement agencies of the state. It was established that the legislative acts regulating the activities of the Security Service, the Bureau of Economic Security, the State Guard, the Military Service of Law and Order, the State Bureau of Investigation, prescribe only fragmentary observance of human rights and freedoms by the employees of these bodies and services in the performance of their official duties, which is a shortcoming of the specified normative acts, and as a result, negatively affects the activities of law enforcement agencies in their relations with citizens, compliance by officials with international standards of law enforcement activities, which establish the rules and principles of correct and appropriate behavior of law enforcement officers during the performance of their official duties, defined by normative legal acts duties, including under martial law. However, despite the martial law regime, ensuring the observance of the rights and freedoms of citizens by law enforcement agencies, along with other functions, should become one of the main tasks of these agencies.

Peculiarities of the special knowledge application in the investigation of taking a government official or law enforcement officer as hostage

An effective investigation of any criminal offence is not possible without the use of specialised knowledge. Taking a government official or law enforcement officer as a hostage is no exception; on the contrary, from the moment information about the seizure is received, there is a need to engage specialists from various fields of knowledge, including a forensic expert, dog handler, explosives expert, etc.
 The purpose of the study is to investigate the scientific findings on the definition of the concept of “special knowledge” and to clarify its role in the investigation of criminal proceedings under Article 349 “Taking a government official or law enforcement officer as a hostage” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. To achieve this goal, the study used the following methods: analysis, synthesis, comparison, critical thinking, and systemic and structural methods, with the aim of conducting a thorough study of theoretical developments, results of investigative and judicial practice, systematising the results and formulating conclusions.
 It has been argued that one of the ways to improve the efficiency of detection and investigation of crimes is to use specialised knowledge in the activities of law enforcement agencies. In particular, when investigating the taking of a government official or a law enforcement officer as a hostage, special knowledge should be considered as skills and abilities in a particular area which are used in criminal proceedings and contribute to establishing the truth in the case, which contributes to the effective completion of the investigation.
 As a result of the study, the special knowledge has been classified, namely: by the procedural position of the person who uses it, by the form of expression, by the need to use special knowledge at a certain stage of investigation, by the form of the final result, by the field of knowledge, by the degree of secrecy, by the purpose of use, by the significance of the results obtained.
 According to the results of a comprehensive analysis, three forms of special knowledge application are proposed in the course of investigation of taking a government official or law enforcement officer as a hostage: specialist involvement in investigative (detective) actions, appointment of forensic examinations and consulting.
 The role of specialists when involved in conducting typical investigative (detective) actions, such as: inspection of the scene, interrogation and investigative experiment, has been described. An indicative list of specialists who can assist an investigator has been proposed, and the tasks which can be solved through such interaction have been outlined. An indicative list of tasks facilitated by the appointment of forensic examinations has been provided.