Methods of negative information and psychological impact on law enforcement officers during protests in foreign countries

Relevance. In 2019-2021 numerous protests and riots swept the world including Europe, Asia, and America. Some of them turned violent and resulted in the death of people. Rioters used sophisticated methods to influence law enforcement officers in order to disorientate, demoralize and disorganize them. The identification and analysis of these methods will help to implement programs of information and psychological prevention and protection of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation. Objectives. The purpose of the article is to identify, analyze and classify methods of negative information and psychological impact on law enforcement officers in foreign countries during protests and riots of 2019 - 2021. Results. The definition of the terms “impact” and “negative information and psychological impact on employees of internal affairs bodies” was clarified. An analysis of online publications related to mass protests and riots was carried out. Rioters’ methods of negative information and psychological impact on law enforcement officers were described and classified. Conclusions. The methods of negative information and psychological impact on law enforcement officers used by rioters have become more sophisticated, flexible and diverse. They are carried out both offline and online and affect the consciousness, social attitudes and behavior of law enforcement officers. To protect law enforcement officers from negative information and psychological impact, it is necessary to implement a set of legal, informational, operational and psychological measures.