Review

The article deals with issues legality of using the provocation during covert investigations of domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies. In historical retrospective examines the genesis of the concept and essence of provocation, criminal liability for the commission of the criminal legislation of Ukraine. It is concluded that provocation is using since ancient times in political and military afairs. However, scientifc development of provocation as a crime, appropriateness and legality of its using in combating crime most productive began only in the middle of the XIX century. At frst the questions about the legality of using the provocation during covert investigations were fxed in departmental normative legal acts of the police and gendarmerie, which is strictly forbidden to use it to incite people to commit crimes. In the early days of Soviet power provocation`s methods widely used in operative, investigative and counterintelligence activities. In the frsts criminal codes of most union republics criminal responsibility for provocation was assigned, but later it was canceled.

An important infuence on the development of national legislation and enforcement activities to use provocations during covert investigations of law enforcement has the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. ECHR clearly delineates the limits which is permitted during the law enforcement agencies covert investigation. Taking this into account during the preparation and conduct of control measures for crimes it`s prohibited provoke (incite) the person to commit the crime with the purpose of further exposure by helping the person to commit the crime, she or he would have never done, no matter how quick operative worker or investigator is not helped. Obtained in this way documents and things can not be used in criminal proceedings.

Keywords: provocation, incitement, covert investigative (detective) actions, operative-search measures, pre-trial investigation, operative-search activity, evidence.