Tactics to avoid getting harassed by corrupt police?

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I used to live in a very corrupt country - Ukraine. (Not that corrupt any more. See update below.) Let me give you some advice.

  1. Try to avoid looking like a stranger. Try to look like the locals. That is often difficult, I know.

This is the only advice I can give on how to avoid corrupt police. They often search for strangers just to get some money from them, because strangers are easy targets. All the other advice is about how to deal with bribes and police.

  1. The key is your behavior. In corrupt countries, it is very important to behave like you are a very important authority. Corrupt policemen are afraid of their bosses only. You need to make them think that you can contact local authorities or your embassy to ask for help. This is where the second tip comes from.
  2. Take your local embassy phone numbers with you. Call them whenever any problem with bribes and corruption happens. In my experience, that mostly helps, however it depends on the embassy. All developed countries have very good embassies and their own citizen's protection mechanisms.
  3. If you are forced to give bribes to police, then ask the police officers to help you to avoid all future problems with other officers. They are mostly happy to help you with that. It's like a deal, you give him a bribe - he helps you in the future. Take their phone numbers, for example, in order to call them when the next police officer harasses you.
  4. I believe it is very important to have an interpreter with you. Without one, you'll be harassed too often. And make sure the interpreter also behaves in a confident manner.
  5. The bribe value for strangers is usually 10 times higher than for locals. So, you can bargain with them. For example, a $30 USD bribe could be negotiated down to $3 USD.
  6. Never give your IDs or papers to police. Just show your documents and refuse to give them. That works in all ex-USSR countries.
  7. Try to never leave your car to talk to police. Talk through the window only.
  8. If they frighten you with a gun - they have broken a very serious law. Unfastening a holster, talking about their guns - that's what I'm talking about. Call the embassy immediately. However, I've never heard of a policeman who broke that law.
  9. Never run away from police. In this case, you can get into a lot of trouble.

This is not a complete list, of course, but I tried to make it as descriptive as possible.

To summarize, I'd like to remind you that your dominating behavior is the key.

UPD as of 2019: In 2014, after the Russian invasion, the new government was elected. A huge number of reforms significantly decreased the corruption level across the country. The street police was fully replaced, like 95% of street policemen are all new people. The on-street bribing has stopped across. You can now go to a police officer and ask for help, they would be honored to help an overseas tourist.

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When in problematic places, it's best to minimize interactions with the police whenever possible. Corrupt police often target tourists as easy victims to make quick money off of. Patience is key in dealing with these situations.

If you find yourself being harassed, remain calm and polite while trying to prolong the interaction. Ask the officer to explain the situation clearly and slowly, and involve other officers if possible. Request to see a written copy of the rule you are accused of breaking and ask for paperwork to be filled out. Suggest going to the local station to resolve the issue. These tactics demonstrate that you are not willing to give in to bribery easily. With any luck, the officers may realize that it's more trouble than it's worth and let you go.

Some people suggest pretending to be a clueless tourist, but this may be difficult to pull off convincingly.

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To avoid harassment:

Avoid areas with a bad police reputation, such as Mexico City. In my experience, the corrupt officers often look malicious, while the friendly ones are genuinely nice. Trust your instincts and observe their demeanor before approaching them.

When you can't avoid the police:

If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot avoid interaction with the police, be cautious and refrain from resisting their instructions to avoid potential charges.

When you encounter harassment by the police:

If you experience mistreatment by the police, seek assistance from tourist police if available. They are generally helpful and may provide necessary documentation for insurance claims. In the absence of tourist police, there should be avenues to file a complaint against the officers. Keep in mind that pursuing this course of action may lead to complex legal proceedings, even in developed countries.

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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