The Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, has adopted a draft law defining the legal basis for the creation and functioning of the National Police of Ukraine and the status of police officers.
Bill No. 2822 on the national police passed second reading with the support of 278 lawmakers on July 3.
The national police is a central executive agency that serves the public by ensuring the protection of human rights and freedoms, countering crimes, and maintaining law and order.
Under the law, the police system consists of the central department and local (territorial) police stations.
The system also includes criminal and patrol police, pre-trial investigation agencies, the police guards division, special police, and riot police.
The chief of the police shall be appointed and dismissed by the Cabinet of Ministers on the proposal of the prime minister in accordance with the provisions of the interior minister.
The police shall be coordinated and supervised by the Cabinet through the minister of internal affairs.
According to the amendments discussed in parliament before the vote, the draft law stipulates that the structure of the national police’s central department shall be approved by its chief in agreement with the interior minister. A similar procedure has been designed for appointing the heads of territorial police stations.
The draft law stipulates that police officers may be involved in international peacekeeping and security operations.
The law becomes effective three months after the date of its publication, except for certain provisions. In particular, the provisions concerning Kyiv patrol police shall come into effect immediately after publication. The provisions concerning Odesa and Lviv patrol police shall come into force as of Aug. 20, 2015.
