ABOUT THE JOURNAL
Police Faculty Bulletin is a print and online scientific journal of the Police Faculty of the Academy of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), with ISSN 2683-0957 (online) and ISSN 1312-6679 (print). The journal has been published since 1973 and is included in the National Reference List of Contemporary Bulgarian Scientific Publications.
The editorial policy builds on a half-century tradition in the field of higher education and research done in the sphere of order maintenance and crime prevention. Furthermore, it complies with generally accepted international standards which promote scientific research. The journal publishes papers which present innovative ideas, empirical research results, theoretical analyses, conceptual views and good practices. After dual-anonymous peer review, the papers are published in Bulgarian (accompanied by an abstract in English).
Police Faculty Bulletin is published periodically (three times a year), and the authors are charged no publication fees.
AIMS AND SCOPE OF THE JOURNAL
The journal aims to promote scientific research by providing a reliable publishing platform for university lecturers and practitioners. It offers them opportunities to generate, explore and present new ideas with a view to stimulating creativity and provoking discussions that result in qualitative, research-based changes in police work. The publishers hold the view that knowledge-based policing is the conceptual approach that can ensure the security, rights and freedoms of Bulgarian citizens. Scientific knowledge is recognised as the most powerful tool police services have in their effort to address the modern-day challenges to security and public order.
The journal accepts papers by any author willing to contribute, regardless of their professional occupation or academic rank/ position. The underlying idea is to promote closer ties between all stakeholders - researchers, practitioners or citizens who feel related to the topic. The journal publishes articles (up to 15 pages) on various aspects of crime prevention, investigation, and maintenance of public order.
HISTORY
In 1958 the first publications aiming to provide specialized vocational training for MoI employees came out. The new type of training launched a series of scientific and publishing activities which, however, needed regulation. The then head of Georgi Dimitrov Higher Special School (HSS) - colonel Zhelyazko Kolev, put a proposition to the Deputy Minister of the Interior that a scientific and publishing unit be established at HSS. Consequently, in 1964 an Editing and Publishing Manual of the HSS was published. It paved the way for planned and mass printing of scientific and educational literature and for publishing the first periodical to meet the research needs of the educational process and the practical needs of MoI units. The manual drew up guidelines on the preparation and publication of textbooks, curricula, operational, investigative and tactical training tasks, teaching aids and other materials that facilitate the learning process. Special emphasis was placed on scientific publications which were seen both as an outcome of and a major stimulus to research. The period was marked by a growing need for practical guidance, intense international exchange and keen scientific interests. The latter were further enhanced by the higher education courses for MoI employees which started in 1969. The manual laid down the rules for scientific discussions, reviewing and subsequent publication of research materials. It set clear standards, some of which have been recognized as good practices and are followed to date. Some of the regulations at that time were ideologically biased because of the historical period and the dominant ideology in Bulgarian society and the Ministry of the Interior. For example, a major requirement for a paper to be published was “to meet the needs of practice and comply with the approved publishing schedule", but also "to be in line with the established ideological and theoretical principles".
The considerable publishing experience and the increased interest in research and publications for the needs of order maintenance and crime prevention gave rise to the idea of a journal of the People's Militia Faculty, whose successor today is the Police Faculty. Consequently, in 1973, a decision was made to start a journal, and this marked the beginning of periodical research publications at the Ministry of the Interior. The journal drew on the expertise of other Bulgarian scientific journals and the experience of MoI educational institutions in other socialist countries. The necessary facilities and resources - a printing house, editorial staff, etc. - were provided. The first issues of the journal included articles that met high scientific standards and addressed the practical needs of MoI employees. A number of recognized experts contributed to the journal. The research papers for each issue were carefully selected following strict editorial rules, which guaranteed their practical relevance and scientific merits.
The first editorial committee of the journal included: Lt Col. Assoc. Prof. Georgi Petrov (editor-in-chief); Col. Assoc. Prof. Angel Dikov; Col. Docho Marinov; Lt Col. Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kochev (deputy editor-in-chief); Lt Col. Petrana Ivanova, PhD; Col. Simeon Simeonov; Maj. Troyan Stamatov, PhD (executive secretary). Thanks to their modern ideas regarding content, layout and editing, the editorial committee created the image of the journal and made it one of the prestigious scientific periodicals of its time. In this period, the journal was distributed only within the Ministry of the Interior as it was classified "For Official Use", so readers outside the Ministry had no access to it. The first issue of the journal clearly outlined the editors’ vision for its structure and mission. It was agreed that editorials would be selected on the basis of originality, practical relevance and scientific merits. Features such as Articles, Teachers’ Forum and Scientific Life, contributed to the overall image of the journal.
In the seventies and eighties of the 20th century, the journal earned undisputed reputation as the best scientific publication in the field of public order and security studies. The number of the articles steadily rose, as did the interest taken by both readers and authors. The publications covered a large array of topics relevant to the Ministry of the Interior, and included articles by foreign authors translated into Bulgarian, as well as features presenting the experience of police services in partner countries. The journal had a circulation of 1,000 copies and was distributed within the whole Ministry, reaching all district and regional police stations. Its publications were used as self-study materials by security, operational and investigative police officers, and they served as a basis for on-the-spot training organized each year. So, the journal contributed both to the research and training activities within the Ministry.
In 1987, Georgi Dimitrov Higher Special School was transformed into Georgi Dimitrov Higher Institute. Some of the changes had a direct impact on the publishing activities and on the journal in particular. The new regulations granted the cadets of the People's Militia Faculty and the State Security Faculty the right to graduate with a Law degree, and that stressed the need to set down strict requirements for research publications and publishing activities. To this end, an analysis of the publishing activity was carried out and the need for "qualitative changes" was emphasized. The new regulations aimed at improving the overall organization of publishing activities and they required that research problems be clearly identified, discussed and solved by collaborative teams. The staff set themselves the ambitious goal to develop the full educational and research potential of the institute.
A new policy that promoted research and aimed at high-quality publications was adopted. It had an immediate effect on the publishing policy of the journal and led to significant changes in its layout and content. The journal assumed a markedly scientific character and expanded its thematic scope with articles in the field of Law and Management. By doing so it addressed the growing needs of practice and provided new training content for MoI employees. The editorial committee was driven by the idea to publish articles related to order maintenance and the fight against crime on a regular basis. This new approach provided the readers with the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge of and deep insights into various fields of science and practice.
After the democratic changes in 1989, the journal endured despite the numerous challenges posed by the turbulent social atmosphere. During that period, the Higher Institute of MoI was transformed into a Higher Institute for Training Police Officers and Scientific Research, and later into the Academy of the Ministry of the Interior. The journal was given its current name - Police Faculty Bulletin. It received a new layout, covered an even wider range of topics and was freely distributed. The publishers preserved its traditions and high standards, and showed their commitment to disseminate knowledge, thus serving and protecting the interests of all citizens.
Nowadays, the journal is gaining in popularity thanks to the expertise of its editorial committee, the passion for research of the academic staff, the thirst for knowledge of the PhD students, cadets and students of the Academy of MoI. It thrives on decades of experience, fosters innovations and meets modern challenges for the benefit of society.