LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF CONDUCT/ETHICS
A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the social norms and rules and responsibilities of, or proper practices for, an individual, party or organization. Related concepts include ethical, honor, moral codes and religious laws.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF CONDUCT/ETHICS as Published By Department of Public Safety (DPS) APPENDIX 3
Effective Date: 03/01/1998Last Modified Date: 01/19/2009
As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence and disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others; honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided in me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decision. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals,I will enforce the law courageously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice, or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve those objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my profession-law enforcement.Return to Department of Public Safety Section ContentsGo to Campus Policies and Procedures Page ...
For Indian Police Officers the Code of Conduc as issued by The Ministry ios as follows : -
(1) The police must bear faithful allegiance to the Constitution of India and respect and uphold the rights of the citizens as guaranteed by it.
(2) The police should not question the propriety or necessity of any law duly enacted. They should enforce the law firmly and impartially without fear or favour, malice or vindictiveness.
(3) The police should recognize and respect the limitations of their powers and functions. They should not usurp or even seem to usurp the functions of the judiciary and sit in judgement on cases to avenge individuals and punish the guilty.
(4) In securing the observance of law or in maintaining order, the police should, as far as practicable, use the methods of persuasion, advice and warning. When the application of force becomes inevitable, only the irreducible minimum amount of force required under the circumstances should be used.
(5) The prime duty of the police is to prevent crime and disorder, and the police must recognize that the test of their efficiency is the absence of both and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.
(6) The police must recognize that they are members of the public with the only difference being that in the interests of society and on its behalf they are employed to give full attention to duties which are normally incumbent on every citizen to perform.
(7) The police should realize that the efficient performance of their duties will be dependent on the extent of cooperation that they receive from the public. This, in turn, will depend on their ability to secure public approval of their conduct and actions and to earn and retain public respect and confidence.
(8) The police should always keep the welfare of the people in mind and be sympathetic and considerate towards them. They should always be ready to offer individual service and friendship and render necessary assistance to all without regard to their wealth or social standing.
(9) The police should always place duty before self, should remain calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule and should be ready to sacrifice their lives in protecting those of others.
(10) The police should always be courteous and well-mannered. They should be dependable and impartial. They should possess dignity and courage and should cultivate character and the trust of the people.
(11) Integrity of the highest order is the fundamental basis of the prestige of the police. Recognizing this, the police must keep their private lives scrupulously clean, develop self-restraint and be truthful and honest in thought and deed, in both their personal and official life, so that the public may regard them as exemplary citizens.
(12) The police should recognize that their full utility to the State is best ensured only by maintaining a high standard of discipline, by faithfully performing their duties in accordance with the law and by implicitly obeying the lawful directions of the commanding ranks and maintaining absolute loyalty to the force and by keeping themselves in a state of constant training and preparedness.
(13) As members of a secular, democratic State, the police should strive continually to rise above personal prejudices and should promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all of the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, and should renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women and the disadvantaged segments of society.
PLEASE SEE THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR POLICE ISSUED
FROM UK & UN IN THIS REGARD …
NB : Please read the following documents also in this regard :-
1. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/LawEnforcementOfficials.aspx
2. http://www.nypolfed.org.uk/assets/uploads/PDFs/discipline1.pdf
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