Social Characteristics of Police Constables in the Last Quarter of 19th Century (Based on Materials from the Perm Province of 1889)

Abstract

Introduction. The subject of this study is the social characteristics of the police constables of the Perm province in 1889. The purpose of the article is to trace the evolution of the personnel of the police constables in 1878–1889. Methods and materials. To achieve this goal, the method of prosopographic research was used (drawing up a collective portrait of a Perm police constable in 1889 based on a computer database). Analysis. During the study, it was found that representatives of tax-paying estates predominated among the police constables, the proportion of officials gradually decreased. Most future policemen graduated from military service as non-commissioned officers. 15% of them served as clerks in the army. The number of police constables who had only home education has significantly decreased. According to the data of the Shadrinsk district, the average age of the police constable was 33, much younger than in 1878. According to this list, the social composition of the police was quite variegated, with the dominance of representatives of the peasant class. For 10 years, the personnel of police constables had been almost completely renewed. The average length of service of the police constables was 3.6 years. Results. It was concluded that from 1878 to 1889 the education of the non-commissioned officers improved, and the retired and indefinite leave recruits were replaced by non-commissioned officers who had served on the draft. Thus, from 1878 to 1889, the motivation for service, the professionalism and stability of the cadre of police constables improved significantly.