CONSTITUTION OF POLICE SCIENCES IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

The subject. The authors create an instrumental apparatus that saturates existing and emerging data needs in the theory constituting process and thus create preconditions for police practice development. The methodology. The research is based on the content analyses of final research reports, the object of which is police proceedings and the subject is police reality, The purpose. The authors substantiate the following hypothesis. The source of the development of knowledge in police practice and the development of police theory is a permanent solution to the philosophical contradiction between police theory and police practice, with police practice being the defining aspect of this contradictory unity. The need and areas of scientific knowledge of activities in the police proceedings structure are therefore determined by police practice. The main results. By verifying police practice, the authors confirm the necessary obligatory interaction between theory and practice, which is predominantly determined by the achieved research outputs and their acceptance. At the same time, they respect that systematically processed knowledge from applied research can show the character of a theory. In accordance with their knowledge, consisting of a system of knowledge presented by the achieved outputs from scientific research, evaluation and explanation of phenomena registered in the purposeful implementation of activities in the structure of police proceedings (research object). The term police action can be understood as a synthetic term for a holistic grasp of the police activity and its bodies. The activity of police and security authorities means: a special form of professional service for the state, self-governing as well as commercial organizations and, last but not least, citizens. It contains a set of executive, organizational, management and other activities that have the character of official interventions, official acts, other official activities and other measures. They are carried out in accordance with the rule of law and ethical principles of civil democratic society, preventive and, where necessary, repressive methods of police work. We accept these proven approaches and procedures when creating theories in the system of police sciences. We combine the purpose of this diversification with the conception of the essence, correct interpretation, evaluation and management of theories ( scientific disciplines ) in the process of their creation.


Introduction
In accordance with the presented opinions of the authors, it is crucial for the systematic constitution of police sciences to get to know the social needs. In their theoretical identification, the authors recommend to accept their growing dynamics and social conflict, as well as decision making regarding the delegation of responsibilities for the means used and the time horizons for their satisfaction through police practice. In this context, the authors conclude that currently the police sciences subsume in their content an emerging system of scientific knowledge about police reality. The authors define police reality as an objective reality in human society, in which the processes of police proceedings are realized and their constructs are created and implemented. Subject in the constituted police sciences, an optics they use in researching, evaluating, explaining and designing police proceedings. In this respect, the authors consider it is decisive that the theory of police sciences should be connected with a practice which, with its systemic knowledge, improves, develops, innovates, etc. If the theory did not contribute to the improvement of police practice, it would be considered illegitimate.
"How does the security situation affect social development?", "How does the citizen react and will react to the security situation?", "What needs to be solved in relation to the preparation of the police for the emerging security situation?"...
The authors of the present study are convinced that when searching for answers to these questions it is possible to contribute to the continuous introduction of qualitatively new (improved) procedures in police practice -especially in securing the rights and freedoms of citizens and society.
The results of applied research (for example, carried out by the staff of the Akadémia Policajného zboru v Bratislave (Academy of the Police Force in Bratislava), Právnická fakulta Univerzity Mateja Bela (Faculty of Law, Matej Bel University) in Banská Bystrica) confirm that the trend of unfavorable development of the state, structure and dynamics of crime (criminal acts) (Academy of the Police Force in Bratislava, Catalogue of the Library of the Academy of Police Force in Bratislava (from 1975 -2017). persists in the Slovak Republic. For example, mass, ongoing, persistent crimescommitted continuously for several years, activities of criminal groups (organized, criminal, terrorist and extremist) raise the need to find and implement solutions based on scientifically objectified knowledge. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that in real time it is necessary to identify and resolve discrepancies between the dynamically changing security situation and relatively stable (sometimes obsolete) police approaches in dealing with it (for example, the persisting dominance of retrospective approach in evidentiary processes is obvious).
In the Slovak Republic, the above facts are obvious to security experts (but also to a relatively large part of citizens) and therefore they are constantly looking for answers to the questions: "Why is there no remedy in this regard?", "What reasons are used to accept previously preferred solutions?" etc. In these intentions, police officers realize that the feeling and need for security is a basic need of the society [3, p. 53]. They respect that without an adequate solution of security , no real economic prosperity, raising and improving the standard of living of the population, development of their free activities in all spheres of society and protection of their dignity are possible. [26, p. 19]These facts significantly affect the very orientation and approach of the police to the performance of tasks in the spirit of the mission "To help and protect".
By an analogous interpretation of the above postulates, it is possible to conclude that achieving success in the area of crime control is conditioned by the functionality of the police procedure. Its characteristics are directly linked to the answers to the questions: "What does the police mean? Which activities can we say are done by the police?" It can be said that it is not a mistake if the functions of the police within the society are defined and purposeful diversification of the responsibilities of these entities in the performance of legally delegated tasks is justified while searching for answers to these seemingly simple questions. Respecting the above, we are aware that lot of conflicting information can be found in historical records about the very origin of the "police craft", "police activity -profession". Despite this fact, it is possible to assume that the Правоприменение 2021. Т. 5, № 3. С. 137-155 ISSN 2658-4050 (Online) creation of the police profession is related to the process of social division of labor, the emergence of class society and the state. The ruling class purposefully creates special units to promote its interests. In parallel with the emergence of social classes, law and control of compliance with the law arise. This confirms that the historical development of police authorities and their activities can be understood only in close relationship with the development of the state and state administration, these bodies and institutions were and are an organic part of.
When objectifying these statements, we would like to say that in the field of law and state sciences there are relatively few terms, the content of which has changed in historical development as the term "police". From the ancient Greek "polis" and "politeia", through the French and English "police", the Italian "polizia" and the German "polizei", the term "police" started to be used in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in the 18 th century. If we examine this designation from the point of view of history, we will find that it did not have a precisely defined meaning. It frequently referred to the most diverse situations or activities. It meant, for example, public order, the coexistence of citizenship, while the activity of public power was to serve to achieve it. At one time, it included all the activities of the state and its content changed as the state administration developed. Later, it was understood as the internal administration of the country. In the 19 th century, the so-called positive (care for the economic and cultural development of the state) and negative (activity aimed at maintaining order) activities of the state administration started to spread out. It can be said that this defined a more narrow concept of the police, including only the activities of the state administration, aimed at maintaining public peace and order and facing the dangers threatening the whole and individuals. The term "police" started to refer to special state bodies performing security tasks on behalf of the state equipped with the necessary powers. The concept of the police is spoken of in a material, formal and institutional sense [15, p. 42]. It is the possibility of a legitimate use of coercion (even physical) to maintain order and internal security that is considered to be a defining feature of police action, unlike other branches of state power.
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, this of course does not mean that the police use coercion (violence) often or on an everyday base, but only in justified cases (within the limits and scope of the law). Therefore, the quality of state control (police) is important in our democratic society. This is also because the police carry out a variety of activities when performing their functions and tasks. Even with regard to the social development that the Slovak Republic has undergone, the police is not a homogeneous, static and precisely definable phenomenon. It is in constant motion, adapting to economic, political, socio-psychological and other influences, and these changes tend to have an accelerating tendency. Therefore, the search for answers to the questions is of particular relevance: "What should the police do in a democratic society (system) and what competencies they should have in their actions (powers and responsibilities)?" In answering these questions, it can be stated that the majority of our society perceives that police officers have their authority and are obliged to use being aware that they perform a legitimate public role of the state in ensuring security. That is why in their work they rely on consent and cooperation with citizens and other entities competent to participate in the performance of tasks related to ensuring the enforcement of the law.
In this context, we dare to state (and the results of the search confirm this) that current police theories (summarized in the constituted police sciences) consider society and the police as partners. A number of arguments are used to justify this thesis. For example, in the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the results of the applied research show that it is necessary for the police to change their strategy in relation to citizens. In particular, it is necessary the close cooperation with citizens (for example at a local level) tries to restore the selfregulatory mechanisms of informal social control, etc. We also take over foreign experience from democratic states and introduce the Community Policing model [25, p. 79-87]. The correctness of this approach is accompanied by increasing the level of efficiency and effectiveness of crime control, reducing the fear of this undesirable social phenomenon, increasing the quality of life of citizens and improving the service and legitimacy of the police (strengthening the position and role of police officers) [18, p. 51].
In the Slovak Republic, police officers are expected to:  Correctly understand and promote their social position and function  Increase the level of their personal responsibility  Have the required professional mastery  Were autonomous, creative and "healthy" initiative  Created preconditions for permanent cooperation with the citizen in the required humility to their real and expected requirements, etc.
By analyzing these facts, it is possible to conclude that the position of the police in society is formulated, but its creation and consolidation is associated with a whole load of historical, current and perceived contradictions [12, p. 13].
Respecting the needs of police practice and theory, our ambition (scientific and pedagogical staff of Akadémia Policajného zboru (the Academy of the Police Force) in Bratislava and Právnická fakulta Univerzity Mateja Bela (the Faculty of Law of Matej Bel University) in Banská Bystrica) is the theoretical knowledge to participate in promoting these proven experiences and fulfilling the rule of law. While fulfilling it, we are aware that for police officers to fulfill their mission (tasks, functions), the appropriate legislative, organizational-managerial, tactical and technical preconditions for their action must be improved constantly. Simply said, the fact that police proceedings are characterized by extraordinary richness of the content, versatility of phenomena, events and relationships also requires an appropriate variety of methods, procedures and means for the purposeful implementation of its activities. Therefore, from a methodological and methodic point of view, it is necessary to generate certain activities (categories) in its structure, which differ in terms of legal basis, focus and methods and means [10, p. 42].
Experience confirms that without an elaborated theory, these requirements, in accordance with the identified needs, cannot be fulfilled. Police theories have an important place in the cognition system. The results of theoretical knowledge are a prerequisite for the successful implementation of police activities. The theory fulfills its social function primarily by developing objective knowledge that can be used to increase the level of efficiency and effectiveness of police proceedings (fulfillment of tasks set) and yet helps to put it into practice.
Theoretical knowledge (in terms of fulfilling tasks) within the police proceedings system significantly contributes to the fulfillment of the principles of freedom, democracy and law in accordance with individual functions of the rule of law. [23, p. 35] The new state in the development of police theories objectively arises from the change in the scientific situation affecting the implementation of scientific activities and the acceptance of its results in the theoretical and practical field (the science, as we perceive it, having a broad spectrum).
In more detailed sense, we understand that science is as a system of systematically arranged, proven and reliably true knowledge. Science is a system of truth dealing with one common subject and proving themselves from known and certain principles . Science is not a frozen state, but a process of knowledge constantly changing. As a result of its intensive development (genetics, informatics, cybernetics, theories of systems organization, quantum physics, evolutionary gnoseology etc.), the view of basic characteristics of science, ideas about models of science are also developing.
In this context, it is appropriate to emphasize that individual scientific fields or disciplines are increasingly expanding, influencing and intertwining through interdisciplinary interaction. From a methodological point of view, they create mutual compatibility, which is also an argument for understanding science as a whole. There are changes in ontology (answers to questions about the nature of the world), epistemology ( answers to questions about the nature of human cognition of the world), methodology (answers to general theoretical problems of ways and means of scientific cognition, principles of scientific research as a creative process). As a result of social and political and social and economic developments, the methods of decisionmaking in the use of scientific knowledge are also changing. Respecting the historical contexts in assessing this fact, we can state that the expansion of social and historical concepts of science, recorded especially since the 70s of the last century, is becoming very important for the development of police sciences [21, p. 11].
In synthesis, these facts confirm that the theoretical and methodological development of the police sciences requires to be confronted and independently dealt with in the current state of science theory and methodology (in general) at the beginning of the 21st century and to be sensitive to the current evolution of the overall scientific atmosphere and they were able to handle it independently and critically.
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the police sciences are constituted as practical, social and security sciences.
When examining the practices accepted in promoting the ambitions of the police sciences within the system of sciences, it can be said that their paradigms are changing. We denote the paradigm of science by the basic ideological pattern using which we assess, understand and interpret the scientific activity carried out in the process of constituting police sciences. In our approach, there is also a unifying and integrating scheme, which we accept in the performance of scientific research tasks, the object of which are the activities of police proceedings and the subject of police reality -processes of police activities, their determinants and constructs.

Police sciences -Practical Sciences
Police science is a practical science. "Why are police sciences practical?" Based on the published information, it is obvious that the experts are not united in answering this seemingly simple question. However, most of them agree that the police sciences are obliged to sensitively perceive the current development of the overall scientific atmosphere and to be able to manage it independently and critically. They argue that both the theory of police science sand its research serve primarily a certain practical purpose.
The basic (fundamental) sciences are the sciences of events "of what is happening; of the events." They describe, explain and predict events. The practical sciences are the sciences of action. The purpose of their constitution is to create preconditions for optimal functioning of a man in the society in various areas -in the field of industry, agriculture, health protection, education, etc. [10, p. 78]. By systemically processed knowledge practical sciences provide instructions on how to act, how to design purposefully implemented actions and achieve set goals. The basic characteristics of the practical sciences include:  Motives and goals of the constitution of practical sciences -practical sciences answer the question "How to act?" in order to satisfy the interests and needs; therefore, they are sciences of proceedings, i.e. their subject is the preparation of people´s actions (activities).
 Basic research activities -design and evaluation are typical; design is considered to be the main procedure used in practical sciences (often called design sciences) -creating information models of future possible states; likewise, evaluating procedure is of much greater importance in practical sciences; evaluation -it can be said it is present in all stages of the cycle of cognition.
 Basic statements and their natureare scientific rules and projects that have a normative character; express the procedures necessary to achieve the objective; they are instructions for action to achieve the set goal.
 Knowledge evaluation criterionefficiency, as a complex criterion; expresses the effectiveness of cognition (or action), as well as the expression of its acceptability, economy, etc. [10, p.85].
The need to research, evaluate, explain and design police practice is based on the very philosophical understanding of the relationship between practice and theory. Its definition depends not only on the philosophical school or philosophical movement that interprets it, but also on what important formations and connections dominate in their definition. If this concept is based on the primacy of practice and the inferiority of knowledge, then the need for scientific knowledge in current police practice is determined, dictated and limited by the police practice [3, p. 15].
In addition, we think that the source of the development of knowledge in police practice and the development of police theory is a permanent solution to the philosophical contradiction between police theory and practice, with police practice being the determining element of this contradictory unity. The need and areas of scientific knowledge of police activities are ultimately determined by police practice.
The task of scientific knowledge of current police practice is to serve the police practice itself. If scientific knowledge is to fulfill this role, it must resolutely eliminate all elements of dogmatism or practices that are still evident with some police "experts." Both practices and dogmatism distort the dynamic relationship between knowledge and practice, theory and experience, and are objectively detrimental not only to police theory, but to police practice itself [24, p. 81-82].
Regarding the process of constituting police sciences, we can say that the definition of their specific subject is the question to discuss. It is clear from the results of this discussion that defining this basic attribute of police science is currently a complex theoretical and practical problem. Applied research confirms that this is mainly because experts cannot agree on the identity of the theoretical and practical needs of police proceedings (see more in the next part -Police Proceedings) (BANGO, BUDKA, ERNEKER, HOLCR, IVOR, HOLOMEK, LISOŇ, METEŇKO, NEIDHARDT, PORADA, SCHNEIDER, STEINERT, STIERANKA, STOCK, VICENÍK, VIKTORYOVÁ, ..). The consensus in their discussion is that it is necessary to distinguish between police action (in literature, especially in the German one, the term police work is used as a synonym; in Slovak and Czech literature, the term police-security activity is often used in this context) and special police activities (or police activities). [28, p. 78-89] [29, p. 210-217] 3. Object and Subject of Police Sciences In performing their tasks and functions, the police carry out processes and purposefully perform various activities. In the professional public, this set of activities is relatively frequently referred to as policing (das polizeiliche Handeln) or police work (die Polizeiarbeit). This approach is registered even though these terms are not synonymous. While studying published knowledge dealing with police activities, in many cases, it is not clear whether different authors are talking about the same thing. This causes problems not only in theory but also in practice. There is no doubt that it is necessary to take a specific attitude.
Based on the results of a comparison of the linguistic analysis of these terms, we have come to the conclusion that the term police proceedings in relation to police activities is more complex, more precise and synthesizing within its content. It is assumed that its use in police practice and theory has greater prospects. It is important that recently (in the scientific environment of the Slovak Republic) a relatively large number of experts support the opinion that its acceptance for the purposes of constituting police sciences has the most versatile and scientific character. Last but not least, the experts state that the use of this category is also of pragmatic importance, which is evident in examining, evaluating and explaining specific police activities that make up its structure (similarly, for example, management activities within management theory are scientifically examined).
The term police action can be understood as a synthetic term for a holistic grasp of the police activity and its bodies. The activity of police and security authorities means: a special form of professional service for the state, self-governing as well as commercial organizations and, last but not least, citizens [10, p. 86]. It contains a set of executive, organizational, management and other activities that have the character of official interventions, official acts, other official activities and other measures. They are carried out in accordance with the rule of law and ethical principles of civil democratic society, preventive and, where necessary, repressive work methods. Their aim is to protect the fundamental human rights of citizens and society from crime and other anti-social activities [5, p. 65], [22, p. 94-95].
In the thesaurus of police sciences, police activities can be understood as a concept excluding individual specific activities aimed at achieving goals that result from the police tasks and functions, such as criminal-police knowledge, while abstracting from accompanying and auxiliary activities (non-police in nature) [11, p. 68].
We accept these facts when participating in the process of constituting police sciences. In particular, for the needs of the theory of police sciences we work with categories -police proceedings (in literature, especially in the German literature, the term police work is used as a synonym, in Slovak and Czech literature the term police- security activity is often used in this context) andpolice activities. [20, p. 290-298] For some complexity, we state that our approach corresponds to neo-functionalist and neo-positivist paradigms. By accepting them while creating theories, we narrow the scope of scientific knowledge of the police proceeding system and thus create preconditions for a higher level of objectivity of the achieved information outputs. In addition to the above, it allows us to better understand the content of this system in close correlation to its dynamic aspects or characteristics, etc.
Empirical experience confirms that without adequate knowledge of the police proceeding system (theoretical, practical) it is not possible to effectively and efficiently ensure the fulfillment of the so-called police tasks as defined by the law. This is because police entities operate in a relatively well-defined organized environment, which is characterized by:  Hierarchical organizational structure with basic relationships of superiority and subordination  Hierarchical system of organizational standards determining and influencing the organization and functioning of the communication system so that all functions of the organization and its organizational elements are optimally fulfilled  A hierarchy of power and authority, which are promoted primarily as a necessity in ensuring the functioning of the structure of coordination relations between individual employees and working groups  Legal regulation and considerable formalization [4, p. 65] This implies that the structure of the police proceedings system is primarily influenced by the vertical differentiation of professional positions in which the leading positions have the power to decide and control. The existence of these power relations essentially means that certain positions are endowed with greater decision-making powers than others, and therefore their degree of responsibility is higher in the performance of their tasks. The importance of these principles is evident in the system of organization and management of police entities. For its optimal functioning, it is important that these aspects of power correspond to the identified needs of society, citizens and police entities themselves. [18, p. 44] In objectifying the above, we are aware that the functioning of any social system (in our case, police proceedings) is significantly determined by the implemented organizational and management measures. By organization of work and management of police proceedings we mean the creation of optimal conditions for the effective functioning of police structures and their coordination in the protection of the safety of citizens and the protection of public order. The police structure consists of networks of normative as well as voluntary and spontaneous relations between police organizations, police officers, civil servants and society. [20, p. 294] Based on historical experience, in relation to the above, we state that in the rule of law, the basic requirements for organizing the work and management of police proceedings include:  Determining a clear and well-arranged organizational structure of the system and tasks of a particular police officer  Close connection of theory and practice, knowledge of needs and transfer of scientific knowledge into police practice  Setting specific and achievable goals, both long-term and short-term  Consistent fulfillment of information requirements for the implementation of police proceedings (individual purposefully implemented processes)  Purposeful personnel work manifested by controlled adding of qualified staff to the police proceedings system, with an emphasis on experts in management structures who are able to organize and manage work not only in normal conditions but also in crisis situations  Conceptual introduction and use of modern technology (especially for working with information using executive information and communication technologies) and the latest scientific knowledge in practical police proceedings.
The purpose, goals and tasks form aspects of individual functions (missions) of police proceedings. The functions of police proceedings are performed in the form of activities that have a systemic, procedural and, last but not least, strategic character. Therefore, we consider the processes of prevention (preventive and educational activity) and repression (coercion) to be strategic. Due to the fact that we apply a systemic approach to the knowledge of police proceedings, we consider these processes to be certain subsystems that can be further subdivided.
For example, we describe elements of the police proceedings system the processes of criminal-police activities (for example , in the conditions of the intelligence activities of the Slovak Republic [13, p. 59], operational-investigative activities [14, p. 72], investigations [30, p. 29]), which are purposefully implemented in identifying certain objects (specific in many cases). The nature of these processes is determined primarily by their special and specific methods, which are used to detect, in particular, criminal offenses (identified features of their factual nature) and to identify their perpetrators, the evidence performed, the search, etc.
That is also why we think that it is appropriate to examine the structure and content of the police procedure from functional and procedural aspects. Our results of applied research confirm that these aspects, when examining and explaining this system, respect the needs of police theory and practice the most. In the police sciences, they make it possible to get to know this system comprehensively, through their specific subject (police reality). Simply said, identify, research, evaluate, explain and design not only the components of police proceedings -policing activities (measures and actions) but also:  Actual course of these processes (starting point, implementation, output, evaluationactivities...)  Determinants at the entry and during the course  Results and effects that are functions of their certain input and process determinants. This confirms that the police management system cannot be confined to the police environment alone. Its inseparable attribute is the nature of its links to the external environment. This relationship is, of course, two-way (they either accept or do not accept their own action, etc.). In addition, it is appropriate to emphasize that these attributes create the prerequisites for its modeling in the form of a system (model). This is because they reflect its nature, features and principles, and therefore, it is possible to consider its specific content. In these intentions, the structure of this system can be created by defined legal regulation of its processes (in accordance with the functions and principles of the rule of law) and acceptance of responsibility for the implementation of special activities and the performance of police tasks. [26, p. 18] From a pragmatic point of view, creating a system model of police proceedings is closely related to the functions that must necessarily find their expression in its content. In other words, the content of the police proceedings is intended to fulfill the functions, in accordance with the needs of society and its needs.
Therefore, for the needs of creating theories and researching while characterizing the system of police proceedings, we recommend using its cognitive, preventive, protective, coercive and educational functions. The logic of the matter implies that the functions of this system are fulfilled by various forms and types of processes (activities), implementation of adequate, often specific measures and actions, using certain forces, methods, Правоприменение 2021. Т. 5, № 3. С. 137-155 ISSN 2658-4050 (Online) means and forms. Due to the fact that this system has a complex functional character by introducing differentiation criteria, it is possible to exclude certain subsystems in its structural content and to analyze and investigate them independently, to determine their interrelationships in the genesis of its development. [16, p. 41] In this sense, in the process of constituting police sciences, by accepting them we exclude organizational and tactical forms:  Criminal-police proceedings (activities)  Administrative-police proceedings (activities) In the Slovak Republic, these forms are the most typical in terms of police entity mission and tasks. According to their importance, the scope of coverage and frequency of use, they are also referred to as the main directions of police activities. This is how they are most often perceived in the eyes of the public.
The wide range of ideas about police subsystems only underlines the topicality of the need to structure their content more precisely and in line with the achieved scientific mission. [16, p. 51] We think the key to solve this problem is in the chosen methodological approach, in which we emphasize systemic differentiation criteria and respect the strategic areas of activity of police entities in performing the set tasks. This is because the relative autonomy of each major direction of policing is defined by the manifestations of purposefully conducted policing processes. Their identity is determined in particular by:  Specific purpose being fulfilled (answers to the question: "Why are police processes (activities) performed?"),  Specific goals achieved by the application of specific methods, the use of means and implementation of police processes -for example, the control of anti-social activities (answers the question: "What should be achieved by this?")  Respect for the principles of legality and officiality regulated by law (answers to the questions "Who, How, When, Where and What can be used to implement that?"). The content of policing processes consists of measures (actions, interventions) and acts. These processes are carried out by competent state administration bodies (police entities) for the purposes of police knowledge, coercion and decision-making .... For example, the processes of police proceedings in securing tasks in the area of crime control, the subsystem of criminal-police activities can be characterized mainly by the following features:  Their implementation takes place in the field of protection of social relations  Are purposefully focused on recognizing phenomena that are classified as criminal offenses under the Criminal Code  Ultimately aim to achieve the purpose of criminal proceedings  Are regulated by special legal norms and regulations This is especially evident when dealing with specific situations in which methods and means of police proceedings of the same kind are applied and used for individual processes. A typical example is the application of strategic functions in ensuring crime control, i.e. prevention and repression. On the other hand, we must say that not all police entities have the same competences in their application.
Police action is a synthetic term for a holistic grasp of the activities of the police and its bodies. In its system , we examine, evaluate, explain and design processes, in their structure of activities, as categories that exclude individual specific procedures, which are structured in achieving the set goals.
The objectives of police proceedings result from the roles and functions of police entities, while being abstracted from accompanying and ancillary processes (non-police in nature). An analysis of these facts can lead to the conclusion that for the scientific examination of these processes in police proceedings, it is not important who and for what purpose carries them out (authority, service). However, it is important what purpose is pursued, what their goal is, what the starting points are, procedures, possibilities and ways to achieve them. Therefore, in no case do we underestimate the practical significance of the requirements resulting from legal regulations of these activities, but only eliminate the dominance of the so-called normative-legislative approach in defining the methodological category -police proceedings.
In these intentions, it can be concluded that for practical and theoretical needs , it is appropriate that the police proceedings have a systemic character. It cannot be understood as a random summary of mutually differentiated measures and actions of individual police entities. On the contrary, it is a holistic social system, which can be structurally divided into subsystems, whose specific character is shown by complex interconnections and specific interactions with the environment [6, p. 37].
In our work, in which we participate in the constitution of the police sciences, "police action" is an ontological, gnoseological category. It means an object that police science examines, evaluates, explains and designs. In accordance with their methodology -police proceedings form a system of purposefully implemented processes (police activities). Police processes are special and specialized activities purposefully carried out by the competent state administration bodies (police entities) while performing delegated tasks, especially in matters of internal order and security. The content of police activities consists of measures and actions that the competent state administration bodies (police-security authorities) implement for normative, organizationalmanagerial, communication, interactive, stimulating, social-acceptance and administrative needs, personal development needs, etc. In a specific synthesis, we thus confirm that when creating the methodology of police sciences on police proceedings (social phenomenon, system), we primarily respect the needs of police practice followed by the needs of the theory. This is because the need for scientific knowledge is determined, dictated and limited by police practice itself [3, p. 11]. Our work in researching, evaluating, explaining and designing police proceedings is not self-serving. Through gradual elaboration, their structural parts, we create optimal preconditions for the true fulfillment of all requirements for their optimal organization and management. The outputs of our scientific work make it possible to modify the structure of the entire system of police proceedings and to optimize the interrelationships between its individual elements. Finally, to consciously shape the relationship between the system and the external environment, which is particularly positive in creating the conditions for the coordination of police proceedings with the actions of citizens.
With this fact, we emphasize that the policesecurity authorities are permanently connected with the society-wide environment through the purposeful implementation of police proceedings processes. In the Slovak Republic, by creating preconditions for their implementation, the state ensures effective and efficient regulation of social relations, especially in matters of internal order and security. With the functions defined in the system of police proceedings , it adequately responds to the needs of the development of the whole society as identified by state bodies constituting it and determining its strategy how to saturate (satisfy) these needs. This implies that it is crucial for the constitution of police sciences to know these needs, to transform their saturation into this system, while accepting their growing dynamics and social conflict, to decide on delegating responsibility for the means used and time horizons to satisfy them through police practice. [3, p. 153] We identify with these statements, while concluding that currently the police sciences subsume in their content the emerging system of scientific knowledge on police reality. [2, p. 24] Police reality is an objectively occurring reality in human society, in which the police proceedings are realized and their constructs are created and function.
Police reality is a subject in constituted police sciences, an optics that we use to investigate, evaluate, explain, and design police action. In this respect, we think it is decisive that the theory of police sciences must be connected to the practice it should improve, develop, innovate, etc. using its systemic knowledge. If the theory did not contribute to the improvement of police practice, it would be considered illegitimate. Not only in theory, but also in practice, police reality must be perceived as a system, the structure of which consists of processes, determinants and constructs of specifically purposefully implemented activities, which are subsumed in police proceedings.
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic (the results of the research prove this as well), the term police practice is a kind of a spell that is supposed to Правоприменение 2021. Т. 5, № 3. С. 137-155 ISSN 2658-4050 (Online) ensure the legitimacy of the existence of police theory. The concept of police practice is so frequent and evident that the answer to the question: "What exactly is police practice?" is almost not requested at all. It is generally assumed that police practice is what the police and security authorities do while exercising their profession and contradicting the theory.
In accordance with our knowledge -police practice is a summary of the processes of police proceedings. It is a complex of purposeful activities of all its components, aimed at ensuring the statutory tasks that the police perform in society. The processes of police proceedings consist mainly of situations in which the methods and means used in the implemented forms of police-security activities are purposefully applied in the performance of tasks.
The constructs of the police procedure consist of generalized scientific knowledge in the form of legal norms, strategies, tactics, methodologies, systems of work organization and management, professional training of their implementers,....
Even though we do not interpret this "expressis verbis", this confirms that we accept their functions in constituting the police sciences. For example, their function is not only to provide scientific knowledge to police practice, to support police practice, but also deep knowledge and explanation of police reality.
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the constitution of police sciences represents a system of knowledge about police proceedings, which is purposefully developed by explaining and designing police reality, in accordance with social needs. The basic structure of the system of police sciences, like science, is formed by two components -theory and research.
The theoretical component of police science is a system of knowledge that presents a description and explanation of the activities and phenomena of police reality [9, p. 222]. The research component provides data and rationale for this description and explanation. In its essence, it is a highly qualified organized professional activity aimed at acquiring new knowledge (basic research), or rather at discovering procedures that can be used for theoretical knowledge in police practice (applied research).
Scientific knowledge is effective if it systematically integrates both of its levels, i.e. the empirical and theoretical level. Although the degree of their representation varies in different areas of knowledge (even in different scientific disciplines), some of them cannot be completely absent. The principle pursued in the constitution of the police sciences is that the components of their theory and research be interconnected. It is through this interpretation that we confirm that in fulfilling this expectation, situations are registered in which the synergy does not work. This negatively determines the acceptance of police science (knowledge), both in the terms of practice and theory. This is especially reflected in the purposeful systemic division of police sciences on the basis of functional areas of police reality, especially -social (regulatory, protective, coercive, educational, etc.), cognitive and organizational-managerial. This is because these functions can be used systematically in the eventual creation of theories of scientific disciplines in the system of police sciences.
In accordance with the opinions of other experts, we can state that looking at the crucial area of scientific knowledge of police reality can also be presented according to the basic aspects determining the position, place and role of the police within the society. According to this approach, the content should be based on social (political, civic) point of view, as well as in organizational and security terms [9, p. 72].
Regardless of completeness, based on these facts, we think that knowledge in the police sciences should be characterized by a system where three aspects can be differentiated: theory, methodology and acquired knowledge.
The theory is an attempt to explain the causes of a condition and changes in an observed phenomenon, process, or event. In this context, it is appropriate to perceive police theory in relation to a specific purposefully implemented activity in the system of police proceedings (police-security activities, criminal-police knowledge, ...).
The methodology is, in particular, a set of rules setting out the procedures on the basis of which it is possible to explain or verify these phenomena. Knowledge is the "amount" of findings that we have achieved by scientific study of a defined phenomenon (object).
The theory, methodology, and findings of policing are so intertwined that any self-divided aspect implies others. This means that we create the theory, resp. we verify with processed knowledge from research -scientific facts; we define methodology by scientific facts and procedures that we accept when creating a theory using facts. The methodology itself is actually a theory of the organization of observations and the knowledge gained from them in systems that are referred to as scientific [9, p. 158].
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the results of applied research confirm that the composition of police sciences shows specific reserves. However, this does not deny their contribution corresponding to the partial saturation of practical and theoretical needs. The expected positive is that the police sciences (at the current stage of their constitution) perform important practical and theoretical functions. This is obvious from the registered increased level of efficiency and effectiveness of police proceedings.

Functions of Theories in the System of Police Sciences
A theory is a set of statements about the subject of research that its authors consider to be true at a given stage of knowledge. The precondition for the acceptance of the theory is that it does not contradict current experience and the results of experiments and is internally consistent. The theory of activity is a generalization of practical experience. It predicts properties and phenomena that were not practically observed at the time of its formulation.
In the practical sciences, theory is a set of substantiated hypotheses that explain certain procedures in performing specified tasks. The ambition of the authors of theories is to confirm these predictions. This condition will prove their truthfulness [9, p. 55-61].
In the process of constituting police sciences, we respect that scientific theory consists of a system of objectively true knowledge that meets the following requirements:  It must have its object, which exists independently of it.  It must be structurally composed of statements about its object.  It must be coherent (internally noncontradictory).  It must be consistent, i.e. all input statements in the theory must be interrelated.  It must be verifiable (its impossibility to be verified can only be conditional, temporary, but not as a principal) [9, p. 55-56].
The basic function of theory (or theories) in police sciences is to create such systems of knowledge about activities in police proceedings, which will enable subjects to know, explain and manage the phenomena, processes and events implemented within. Namely, these are the functions:  Description and classification of phenomena, processes and events in police proceedings  Explanation of phenomena, processes and events in the researched area of activity  Understanding of the entity and basic determinants of the studied phenomena  Management of phenomena, processes and events in police proceedings [9, p. 159]. We believe that these functions are of particular relevance, especially in relation to the purposeful diversification of police reality, the manifestations of which we recognize when creating theories in the system of police sciences. This permanent process is aligned with the identified practical and theoretical needs. At the same time, we respect that the police sciences (plural) should have their own theory (singular), which is systematically created by knowledge from research on police action. It is this statement that does not preclude consideration of the validity of theories on specific police activities, which form the basis of scientific disciplines in the constituted system of police sciences. Thus, we emphasize again that using deduction, theories about specific activities in police proceedings take over the already systemically processed knowledge in the theory of police sciences and enrich (develop) this theory using induction. "Why is it necessary to create theories about specific police activities?" In answering this legitimately formulated question, we use arguments taken from the study of other sciences. Understanding this, we realize that scientific knowledge in the system of its basic laws and categories should immanently contain elements of systemic aspects, represented by the dynamics of the links between the whole and its parts. A prerequisite for the correct grasp of the system in all its complexity, especially its vertical and horizontal relationships, is its decomposition into simpler subsystems, then into microsystems, and even into simple elements (in their genesis and interaction). This historically most used method of step-by-step analysis, using a structural approach, finds the widest scientific application (for example, the oldest attempts were to find a unified picture of a complex world). As in other sciences, when participating in the process of constituting police sciences by describing subsystems and microsystems in various relationship structures and interactions, we seek and find (discover) not only existing relationships, but also inconsistencies and differentiations that allow us to perceive shades of differences in police reality. In this process, we think that the acceptance of this approach is rational in nature. This is mainly because what people are interested in their actions is its effectiveness and efficiency (function -consequence).
The achievement of these goals is largely determined by the preparation of this procedure. The better preparation is, the deeper and more accurate knowledge of the procedure, especially about its system, purpose, goals, processes, means and methods aligned with identified needs under certain circumstances, can be fulfilled, met, implemented, used, applied, etc.
We believe that even these statements sufficiently objectify the need to create theories in the system of police sciences (science) in accordance with the requirements of the addressee, the police practice. Our ambition is that when constituting police sciences, it is implemented with existing (identified) social and police needs (practical and theoretical). Last but not least, through theories on specific activities in police proceedings (they are based on a research), they were in direct and immediate interaction with practice. In line with the above, we think that the role of police science cannot be just to support police practice, but also to have a deep knowledge of the system of activities that create purposefully implemented police activities. We perceive their diversity as a fundamental determinant in the creation and diversification of police theories, which are to become an essential component of scientific disciplines. This is because in the system of police sciences they reflect a spectral approach to the study of police reality. Therefore, these theories are rightly expected to have a practical nature and a specific historical content (an argument to justify the application of the plural in the use of the term "police science").
Other arguments in defending the creation of theories about specific police activities are objectified by analyzing the very approaches that we accept in explaining and designing the system of police reality. In this specific scientific activity, we base our knowledge on the finding that the properties of the system, as a certain unit, are not determined only by the super position of the properties forming the subsystems [8, p. 29]. By learning and exploring the relationships, existing and arising effects in the structure of police reality, we discover other relevant, qualitatively new features of its entire system. This confirms that the complexity, the richness of police reality, which we have chosen to explore in the police sciences, cannot be characterized by a simple analysis of the links between the units and its parts. The current development of these sciences requires more. In this regard, in our scientific work we focus on simple examination of individual elements and causal relationships to study the structure of the police reality structure and the functioning of its files in police practice and theory.
From our research, it is clear that the processes of examining police reality are not appropriate to implement in a static mode, i.e. in isolation, but on the contrary, dynamically, in its specific practical and theoretical systemic expression. We accept these proven approaches and procedures when creating theories in the system of police sciences. We combine the purpose of this diversification with the conception of the essence, correct interpretation, evaluation and management of theories (scientific disciplines) in the process of their creation. For example, this also applies to the theory of criminal-police knowledge. In accordance with social needs, the theory of criminal-police knowledge examines, evaluates and explains and projects the goals, purpose, procedure, content and conditions of systemically implemented processes of intelligence activity [27, p. 269], operational-search activity and investigation in the recognition of criminal offenses. Based on the identified functional laws and gained experience, it creates conditions for their design and further development. In addition to functions (description and classification, ...):  Predicts the development of investigated phenomena, processes and events in the future  Forms a structured system with address control.  It is integrated into a higher system the police sciences are constituted by.  Specific relationships, which are created by common and specific characteristics in the system of police reality, shows a specific position in the system of police sciences [9, p. 89]. A characteristic part of the theory of criminalpolice knowledge is not only the determination of valid procedures for the purposeful implementation of the system of police activities, but also the definition of the objects of their operation. In a specific synthesis, its content fulfills specific functions, the action of which can be confronted with the criteria of scientific reliability, i.e. with knowledge that is identified and verified by research.

Research in Police Sciences
Research is a purposeful and aimed analyticalsynthetic activity, the essential feature of which is the study and knowledge of objective police reality through adequate methodological procedures, methods, techniques and means.

Characteristics of Police Proceedings Research
The aim of police research is to obtain scientific facts about various phenomena, events, properties and other aspects of police reality (facts), which are generalized into the form of laws, general knowledge or scientific theories. Enrich the police process with new scientific knowledge, and thus contribute to a systemic understanding of purposefully implemented processes of police security activities.
We think that these findings sufficiently objectify that the research carried out contributes to the development of theory and police practice. In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the research of police proceedings is created by an instrumental apparatus that provides the necessary data for the theory of police sciences and creates preconditions for the development of practice. Experts who in a certain way participate in the development of police proceedings in the Slovak Republic, such as police officers, instructors (teachers), or decide on its development, development, funding ( police activities managers), have different relationships with the theory and research. Some overestimate the theory established in the police sciences, while they underestimate the results of research. Others, on the other hand, consider theory to be of little use and rely primarily on knowledge gained from field research. Finally, others, unfortunately still a large number, do not respect the theoretical rationale or the results achieved by the research in the performance of the set tasks. In particular, this situation calls for particular emphasis to be placed on the legitimacy of police research, the components of which are its legitimacy and usefulness.
The results of the search confirm that in the Slovak Republic there are currently no systematic books on the research of police proceedings available. Experts gain knowledge about this research in foreign literature or studying our edited professional literature on other proceedings. From these sources, it is clear that the main mission of research is to support, the effectiveness of which is determined by the provided knowledge of research findings, ideas and applications of police proceedings. An important mission is associated with the development of police research itself, and thus with the creation of the theory of police sciences.
We respect these facts in the preparation and implementation of research. Our ambition is to include in the implementation of research on police proceedings such activities that are directly directed to its system, which develop and improve its methodology, methods, its personnel and material base, etc. In this regard, we advocate that research into police proceedings provide knowledge (findings) about police reality for various types of addressees (police officers, teachers, instructors, prosecutors, judges, etc.) and develop itself. This is because it is not correct to associate the research of police proceedings only with its knowledge, but in parallel, or continuously with its implementation development. In these intentions, we define its specifics mainly by the following features:  Research is an activity the subject of which is a system of police reality.  The research is focused on the objects of police reality, which have a qualitatively differentiated nature, and therefore specific methods and approaches are used in its implementation.  The purpose of the research is the systematic description, analysis and clarification of various objects of police reality, from which it is possible to justify its functionality (to define the need for certain research functions).  The aim of the research is to systematically describe, analyze and clarify various manifestations of police reality.  Research is an organized and institutionalized activity (performed by entities designated by law (scientific and pedagogical staff of University departments and others), when implementing its subjects accept ethical and moral values and norms that govern their professional activities).  Research has two parts -theoretical and practical.  Research is based on a certain theory,  Research is a practical activity, it is based on human practice (it is evoked by it, its results purposefully influence the research, they are used).  Its results are used in the creation and development of the theory of police sciences.
According to the depth and scope of police research, we classify it into:  Complex (total),  Examination of the system (for example, the content organization of police proceedings, etc.)  Partial,  Examination of individual parts (for example, research of the evaluation system, motivation, etc.) Our classification is relevant do defend activities carried out in the Slovak Republic by experts within scientific research, which:  is aimed at determining the status of a specific police phenomenon,  allows you to get to know the Java side of the problem,  brings information to create a certain view of the criminal-police situation or the state of the selected phenomenon in specific operational knowledge,  is a starting point, orientation for applied and basic research,  we frequently use it when evaluating police reality (for example, for the needs of managers, solving a specific problem...),  provides information on the status and level of purposefully implemented processes of police proceedings, the action of determinants, the functionality of elements of the logistics system, etc. [10, p. 53] In a specific synthesis, these facts confirm that the obligatory attribute of police research conducted by the experts in the Slovak Republic, is set in accordance with the identified need -to process and distribute objective knowledge to the addressee, which can positively affect specific practical police activities.
With this evaluation statement, we confirm that we consider as our duty to find answers to the questions: "How does the research work?", "What are the information outputs (results, effects) achieved from the research in reality?", "Why are or are not the research outputs accepted by those they are provided for?" "What can police research do and what cannot?" For example, the answer to the last question is that by its implementation we cannot produce:  "Patents" for solving various problems in the practical application of options.  "Authoritative knowledge" that would directly correspond to the needs of political decision-makers and police officers in practice. By researching police proceedings we can:  Create an information base on police reality used to sufficiently defend the very need for theory in police sciences.  Formulate questions, identify and define problems in the purposeful implementation of police proceedings and clarify them -an example is the value added in the system of identification of the facts of criminal offenses (detection, clarification), while performing the tasks in the field of crime control.  Create knowledge that is an important source of information for the competent authorities in their decision-making (advice, doubts), for example about the need to develop police proceedings, etc. We are aware that these relatively clear and concise answers generate a number of other questions. Their common denominator is the question: "Why?" When answering this question, we use the existing changes in the assessment of the tasks of social activities research (policing, policing-security activities), which is accepted in the world. If we consider these facts in a historical context, in the last century (in the 60s and 80s) it was believed that research on social activities should have an immediate impact on both practice and the decision-making of political bodies. It was presented that the research findings can be used directly by these addressees.
Unfortunately, even today, the reality is no different, mainly due to the fact that there are a number of specific factors at various research stages. The interests of its addressees have a special place. Furthermore, the method of acquisition, often insufficiently substantiated, is reflected in the unconvincing presentation of research, etc.
In the Slovak Republic, the situation is more complicated when it comes to the tasks of police research for the political, decisive sphere. It is clear that the sphere of political resolution is not unilaterally dependent on research alone. Entities within this area also use other data sources in their decision-making. This is, of course, correct, but only if other dispositional knowledge is purposefully confronted with the results achieved by the research. There are cases where political practice does not accept this for various reasons. In their decision-making, they promote their set political "philosophy". In these activities, they primarily accept the demands of the public (voters), provided to them by the media, etc. In most cases, they are not familiar with the research results. Their busy schedule does not allow them to seriously deal with the research results, etc. These facts define the tasks of marketing, in relation to the achieved research results. This is because the researcher is also responsible for offering and selling the results of their work. Experience confirms that their acceptance can be influenced by correct and targeted identification of real needs, purposefulness, systematisms, planning and we emphasize again with a suitable presentation. These are other principles specifying the research of the police process and its role. [2, p. 61] Therefore, we evaluate research activities in the whole process and look at their outputs realistically. In relation to police practice , we promote the need to introduce the idea of "action research" in research activities. Its aim is to immediately increase the quality of the purposeful implementation of police proceedings, which Правоприменение 2021. Т. 5, № 3. С. 137-155 ISSN 2658-4050 (Online) creates the necessary basis for their efficiency and effectiveness. For example, in the given case, partial problems are one of its objects related to the detection of certain crimes and identification of their perpetrators, etc. It is obvious that we include members of police and security forces from practice in this form of research. We also evaluate the purposeful participation of professional researchers (for example, sociologists, statistics,...) in the implementation of action research. These are confronted directly or via mediation with practical needs, problems and requirements. The forms of action research we carried out expand knowledge, create a precondition for important assistance for its implementers, as well as for other entities that have the opportunity to get acquainted with its outputs, etc.

2 Addressability of Police Proceedings Research
A special requirement that we accept in the research implementation process is information about the achieved knowledge (results). We make sure that their presentation and interpretation meets the required criteria, which are related to addressability (personnel, time), adequacy (style), scope (information need), etc. We take these facts into account during its implementation, in its individual stages. Our actions are constructive. This means that we know what to do so that the resulting knowledge is adequately received by the addressees, who must understand it (for example, solve specific situations) and so on.
The interpretation of the stated requirements imply that the research of police proceedings cannot be left to natural development. The implementation of research should have its theory and a specific methodology and knowledge in its structure defining its character and essence and explaining it scientifically in a specific way. Implementation must be properly monitored, planned, regulated and coordinated in accordance with specific societal needs, and therefore properly, materially, financially and personally provided for.
Last but not least, based on the considerations we have presented, the question is: "What are the priorities of police research?" When we start searching for the answer to this question, it is appropriate to emphasize that the product of scientific knowledge can be acquired by basic or applied research.
We define the basic research as an activity carried out in order to investigate and explain the key problems outlined by the theory of police sciences. It focuses on the theoretical explanation of problems (scientific explanation), on solutions that can be used in practice secondarily. At this stage of our scientific work, basic research does not provide the immediate usability of information for any change. The aim of its implementation is to develop a model, a theory that finds and describes relevant phenomena and relationships in police practice. At this stage of scientific work, dominant positions in basic research face problems resulting from the definition of the subject, system and content of the theory of police sciences and the implementation of this knowledge into the system of security sciences. The applied research of police proceedings in the Slovak Republic is focused on the use of research findings, on the solution of specific problems of practice. Of course, their implementers respect theoretical concepts when performing research tasks. Those, however, are not the scope of research. This field is a certain section of the reality of police proceedings (activity). The aim of applied research is to identify changes (improvements) in the processes of purposefully implemented police and security activities. For example, through applied research, we examined, evaluated and explained the functionality of operational search activities, detection and clarification of selected types of moral crime, money laundering and others.
Based on the analysis of the research carried out (from 1995 to 2020, by the experts from Akadémia Policajného zboru (the Academy of the Police Force) in Bratislava), we would like to state that the applied research of police proceedings in the Slovak Republic has a synthetic character. When applying it, the implementers look for answers to specific questions. Applied research creates a product in which certain specific phenomena and relationships are tested and based on the already created theory, certain conclusions are drawn for the needs of the practice. [17, p. 162] Despite some progress, which has been evident since 1995 in the scientific research of the police process, there is a number of blank spots in police, security point of view.
In this context, we are aware that there are a number of problems related to the purposeful implementation of police proceedings that need to be scientifically addressed. Their unfinished statement creates knowledge of police practice and theory. Priority applied research is needed to examine issues that can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of purposeful implementation of police proceedings. In this research process, it is appropriate to focus on achieving products that are useful in practice and theory. [7, p. 16-17] Based on the results of the professional discussion that we conduct with police practice, we have concluded that at present it is appropriate to focus research attention on solving the following problems in particular:  Monitoring the results and effects of police security processes,  Structural and organizational research of processes of police security activities (relations, or positions in the system of police proceedings, etc.),  Methods and means -identification of problems in their application, or use,  Political, economic and legal conditions for the implementation of police proceedings,  Professional position and role of police entities,  Systems of preparation, training and instruction for the implementation of processes of police security activities in the system of police proceedings. Apart from these, it proves to be appropriate to focus research on policing on the basic areas of scientific knowledge that are most important for the direction of the constitution of police sciences in the present and in the near future. These include in particular:  Roles of the police in integrating into a united Europe (particularly in terms of the need to ensure freedom, security and justice in the European area),  Basic functions, tasks and content of police activities (basic philosophical thesis, which must be accepted, monitored and enforced, is as follows: the police is a service for the citizen, the relevant changes in strategy, structure, content of police work ... must be adapted to it),  Police as an institution (its organization, hierarchy, its functional differentiations, specialization and division of labor, technology)  Management of police work (attention to police management and its qualities at individual levels of implementation of police strategy and management activities),  Criteria for evaluation of police work (objective and qualified evaluation, which must be perceived in connection with the management) We believe that even with these proposals we have convincingly confirmed sufficiently that the "door" for those interested in scientific work is open in the Slovak Republic. In the close connection of theory with practice, it is possible to increase efficiency and achieve effects for the benefit of society, the citizen.

Conclusions
In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, the constitution of police sciences represents a system of knowledge on police proceedings, which is purposefully developed by explaining and designing police reality, in accordance with social needs. We create the basic structure of the system of police sciences, as a science, with two componentstheory and research. In this context, we respect that scientific knowledge is effective if it systematically integrates both of its levels, i.e. the empirical and theoretical level. Although the degree of their representation varies in different areas of knowledge (even in different scientific disciplines), some of them cannot be completely absent. The principle pursued in the constitution of the police sciences is that the components of their theory and research be interconnected.
When presenting the information in this study, we use processed knowledge from applied research, the implementers of which are mainly employees of Akadémia Policajného zboru (the Academy of the Police Force) in Bratislava and Právnická fakulta Univerzity Mateja Belu (the Faculty of Law of Matej Bel University) in Banská Bystrica. Those, in a relatively short period of time (25 years), were able not only to establish their position in the scientific environment, but also to provide police practice with theoretical knowledge, the acceptance of which positively influences efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling the set tasks. From the theoretical knowledge elaborated in this study, it is clear that its interpretation is purposeful. The reader can accept it, or to criticize it using specifically known arguments. In this case, when processing the knowledge, we fully accept the position and function of police theories in the system of practical sciences. At the same time, we are aware that other renowned experts also comment on these facts (see quotations).
We mention this fact because we want our knowledge to provoke the necessary scientific discussion, the outputs of which will be useful in consolidating the status of theories in the police sciences.
At the end of this presentation we would like to quote: Criminal policy must take off its pink glasses to look at the phenomenon of crime, and must adequately assess the aggressiveness of crime.
Recently, the judiciary itself is greatly helping to reduce legal awareness by making lengthy criminal proceedings much longer, which in many cases cannot be well justified and understood. There is also a tendency to compromise between law and injustice, since through complicated proceedings, the court seeks a way out of a compromise defending that the proceedings can be concluded within a tolerable time. And that is the defeat of the rule of law! What politics has missed in relation to the police and the justice is now taking over, which is reflected in a loss of trust in the state and the rule of law. The fact that the state is not able to guarantee compliance with the law to the required extent raises doubts among citizens about the legal order, about the monopoly of state power.
Our rule of law has too one-sidedly emphasized the protection of freedom in its legislation and judicial practice. However, anyone who has met with injustice can appreciate it. The rule of law must not become a myth. It is not just a protector against the possibility of state arbitrariness, though it is also not a protector of the perpetrators. Law and justice must be pursued. [31, p. 182]".
We are convinced that even this reality sufficiently identifies the need to transform theoretical knowledge into police practice.