The article provides a comparative analysis of the administrative and legal regulation of the voluntary people’s squads of the Russian Federation and Norway. The role of people’s squads in ensuring public order in the Russian Federation and Norway is considered, the main directions of their activities are determined: ensuring public order and public safety. The article shows some aspects that can be considered as problematic. Among them are aspects of material incentives for vigilantes, which increase the effectiveness of the latter’s activities. It seems that increasing the material incentives for citizens to participate in the protection of public order is advisable, but in moderation. Participation in people’s squads is a civic initiative, a voluntary manifestation of activity, a desire to make the place where you live better, to help other people. But if citizens go to such public organizations, first of all, because of financial incentives, then the desired result will also not work. The authors come to the conclusion that there is no proper legislative regulation of the activities of voluntary people’s squads. The expediency of adopting the Federal Law “On Voluntary People’s Squads” is argued, both in Russia, where to expand the powers of the latter, to ensure their social guarantees, protection, and in Norway, where to regulate all aspects of the activities of voluntary people’s squads.