“Do we need Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct?”

ALL police officers will have to sign up to a new compulsory Code of Ethics next year.

A draft College of Policing code of ethics “emphasises the importance of personal integrity, honesty and fairness.”

However Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, questioned why there was a need for a code of ethics when police officers already abide by a code of conduct.

He said: “I am concerned about the confusion that is being created by having a code of ethics and a code of professional code of conduct – what are we to be measured by?

“The code of conduct is one page outlining the behaviours that all police officers must abide by and there are misconduct procedures available if officers fall short of that. The code of ethics is 17 pages… of the same. What’s the difference?”

According to the College of Policing, eventually the ethics document will apply to more than 220,000 police officers and staff across England and Wales.

It is unclear at this stage whether officers will have to physically sign a document – or if chiefs will sign it on behalf of their force.

Police officers, staff and the public are being asked until the end of November for their views on the draft code before the final version is published in the spring.

The police document is divided into ten areas covering honesty and integrity; authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; use of force; orders and instructions; work and responsibilities; confidentiality; fitness for work; conduct; and challenging and reporting improper conduct.

Examples of phrases that officers will have to sign up to in the draft document include, “ensure your decisions are not influenced by self-interest or considerations of personal gain,” a promise to “step forward and take control when required” and to “only give orders or instructions which you reasonably believe to be lawful.”

Police officers will – according to the draft document – have to agree to “maintain strictly professional behaviour when on duty, including not engaging in sexual conduct or other inappropriate behaviour.”

In the code’s section on fitness for work, officers are told they must not make themselves “unfit or impaired for duty as a result of drinking alcohol, using an illegal drug or using a substance for non-medical purposes or intentionally misusing a prescription drug”.

Chief Constable Alex Marshall, Chief Executive of the College of Policing, said: “The Code of Ethics is a first for policing in England and Wales. It is a national document reflecting the core principles and standards of behaviour that every member of the police service should strive to maintain.”

Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation, said: “We support any initiative that reaffirms this high oath of office in respect of police officers and in the eyes of the public to whom we serve and look forward to working with the College of Policing on progressing this most important issue.”