Among the powers of the military police is the ability to temporarily restrict traffic on the roads, stop cars and check documents, as well as enter the homes of citizens. This mainly applies to measures for the detention of persons suspected of committing a crime and in circumstances that threaten the life and health of people.
The relevant norms are contained in the draft law on the Military Police 6569-d of May 31, which the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement recommended to be adopted on May 30.
It is noted that the Military Law and Order Service currently has these powers, but under the new law it will be eliminated within three months.
The military police will have the right to enter the homes or other possessions of citizens in urgent cases related to the saving of life and property or the pursuit of persons suspected of committing a crime, in accordance with legal norms. The current Military Law and Order Service does not have such powers.
The draft law stipulates that in the event of the introduction of martial law or a state of emergency, the Military Police will engage in:
- the fight against enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups on the territory of Ukraine;
- protection of military facilities, military towns and their population, assistance in their evacuation;
- restoration and maintenance of order and discipline in military units;
- ensuring compliance with a special entry and exit regime, as well as restricting the freedom of movement of persons and vehicles.
According to the new law, the Military Police and its authorized officials have the right to check documents of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service, conscripts and reservists during meetings, as well as servicemen of other military formations and law enforcement agencies. On the territory of military units and facilities, they can check documents of all persons, carry out personal inspection, inspection of things, vehicles, and seize documents and objects that are instruments or objects of crime.
The military police also gets the right to:
- to summon persons to provide explanations in criminal cases pending in its proceedings;
- to detain and detain military personnel, conscripts and reservists during meetings at guardhouses;
- to stop for document verification persons in military uniform who have signs of mental disorder, alcoholic, narcotic or toxic intoxication, and pose a real danger to others, with immediate notification to the medical institution or commanders to resolve the issue of their examination in medical institutions;
- to stop military vehicles in case of violation of traffic rules, if there are signs of a technical malfunction of the vehicle or pollution of the environment, or if there is a suspicion that it is being used for an illegal purpose, to inspect and check the driver's documents, waybills and compliance of the cargo with the goods and transport documents .
