Historical aspects of professional activities of the police agencies and the public control institution

The article carries out a historical analysis of the still topical issue of comprehensive monitoring of law enforcement activities (from the pre-revolutionary period until the present times). The first attempt of public criticism of the law enforcement agencies was publications in the Russian press (for example, in the periodical “Kolokol"), considering the cases of corrupt practices in the police, indicating misuse of powers, corruption, extortion and other offences. The author substantiates the idea of the positive impact of public opinion and criticism on the work of the law enforcement bodies.