The essence and significance of “public relations” in police activities

The development of the rule-of-law state under intensive evolution of public opinion requires a deep understanding of the laws governing the functioning of public opinion on state authorities' activities. These prerequisites actualize researches on various aspects of public opinion and such related categories as “public relations”. Purpose: to study the essence and significance of “public relations” in state authorities' activities, in particular internal affairs bodies. Methods: in this study, theoretical methods of deductive logic are used, as well as empirical methods of observation, comparison, generalization, interpretation. Results: during the study, the main characteristics of “public relations” and the key areas of public relations of institutions of the system of internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation are determined. The functions of “public relations” at different stages of interaction with the population are generalized. Recommendations are offered for choosing approaches and strategies for public relations for institutions of the system of internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation.