We know a lot about how police act, or would act, in various situations. The key question is: How should police act? “The European Code of Police Ethics” provides the framework for the values and standards that are required of police in a modern, democratic society.
The Code aims to provide a set of principles and guidelines for the overall objectives, performance and control of the police in democratic societies governed by the rule of law, and is to a large extent influenced by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Code makes a specific Recommendation, defining the requirements and arrangements that will assist the police in meeting the difficult, demanding and delicate task of preventing and detecting crime and maintaining law and order in civil, democratic society. Even if the Recommendation is primarily aimed at Governments, the guidelines are drafted in such a way that they may also be a source of inspiration to those dealing with the police and police matters at a more pragmatic level.
By laying the foundation for ethical norms, a code of police ethics enhances the possibility that ethical problems are more readily identified, more fully understood, analysed more carefully and more readily resolved. It also prompts questions about the values served by the police as an organisation, and their proper application. A code of ethics has the following advantages:
- Concepts within the police, such as ‘loyalty’, ‘consent’, ‘impartiality’, ‘discretion’ and ‘professionalism’ all benefit from the common reference and shared meaning made possible by a code
- It can help articulate personal standards of conduct, which captures a sense of pride in belonging to a police organisation
- This is of particular importance to police recruits, who need to know from the outset the core values that should define and govern their work
- It is important for police training. Without an objective reference for standards and values, the trainer’s task is made more difficult
- It can help to promote public trust in the police and further good public relations and co-operation.
Moreover, a police code of ethics can work as a regulatory instrument for the internal organisation of the police. This is one of the striking features of the European Code of Police Ethics. By providing minimum standards, values and ethical frameworks, it may serve a regulatory function in at least four ways:
- Maintain quality control of the personnel of the police organisation (including civilian staff)
- Help in the exercise of leadership, management and supervision
- Make senior members of the organisation more accountable
- Provide a norm for the adjudication of difficult, internal disputes.
