Public Security (Czechoslovakia)

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You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Czech. (February 2021) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Czech article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Czech Wikipedia article at [[:cs:Veřejná bezpečnost]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|cs|Veřejná bezpečnost}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

Public Security Veřejná bezpečnost VB Verejná bezpečnosť
Abbreviation	VB
Agency overview
Formed	1945
Dissolved	15 June 1991
Superseding agency	Police of the Czech Republic Slovak Police Force
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Operations jurisdiction	Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Prague
Parent agency	Sbor národní bezpečnosti Ministry of the Interior
Child agency	Pomocná stráž VB

Public Security (Czech: Veřejná bezpečnost [VB],^[1] Slovak: Verejná bezpečnosť [VB]^[2]) was the regular police force of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (ČSSR), created in 1945 as a branch of the National Security Corps (Sbor národní bezpečnosti), which also included State Security (Státní bezpečnost).

When the Czech Police was established on 15 July 1991, the VB was used as the basis of reforming the force under Act 283/1991 Coll.^[3][4]

The VB was divided into the Public Order and Traffic VB (Highway Patrol), Criminal Investigations VB (major crimes, forensics) and an Infrastructure Security section (security of important buildings, installations, etc.). There were regional, district, city and local detachments of the force. Its given wartime mission scenarios incklude rear security operations and security of POW facilities.^[5]

The VB were permitted to demand from any citizen an identification booklet (občanský průkaz). This booklet contained a photograph and information such as name, current address and place of employment (being unemployed in the ČSSR was practically illegal, as one could be charged with "living on avails of the society"). As carrying an občanský průkaz was mandatory; a person could be detained for simply not having one in their possession.

The auxiliary wing was the 'Public Security Auxiliary Guard' (Pomocná stráž VB), recruited from "politically reliable" citizens over the age of 21, who wore a red arm-band with "PS VB". They were generally used for traffic control and public order duties.

VB vehicles were originally blue with a white line along the side. Later vehicles had panels painted orange and white in a similar pattern to American 'black and whites', which the pattern's designer admitted after the fall of the regime was his inspiration. The full name 'Veřejná bezpečnost' was used with the blue design while later vehicles had only the letters 'VB' written on the white doors.

VB uniforms were also originally dark blue until the end of 1960s, when they changed to a khaki colour described officially as 'nettle green', with rank insignia on red epaulettes, which did not follow Soviet patterns, except for junior officers.

• Rottman, Gordon (22 January 1987). Warsaw Pact Ground Forces. UK: Osprey Publishing.

• Police of the Czech Republic
• Law enforcement in Slovakia