Code of Police Ethics - Policija

CODE OF POLICE ETHICSThe Code of Police Ethics consists of two generalprovisions and basic principles; it determinesboth the relations between police officers 1and the relations between police officers andcitizens, state authorities, non-governmentalorganisations and other institutions. The Codeof Police Ethics constitutes moral and ethicalstandards of the Police and upgrades the Code ofConduct for Civil Servants.The Code is intended to raise police officers’awareness of the importance of respecting ethicalprinciples and to strengthen ethical and moralconduct in practice.The Code’s Annex contains a list of values andvirtues expressing the mission of the Police.1The term police officer(s) applies to both female and malepersons.1

GENERAL PROVISIONSArticle 1The Code of Police Ethics expresses the will anddesire of all Slovenian police officers for lawful,professional, fair, polite and correct work as wellas humane conduct.Article 2Police officers shall be committed to ensure theprotection of and respect for human rights andfundamental freedoms. In a lawful interferencewith an individual’s human rights andfundamental freedoms, they shall respect theperson’s personality and dignity.Police officers shall be obliged to protect a person’spersonality and dignity also by preventing anyviolence, inhumane treatment or other actionswhich are humiliating to people.Police officers shall perform their mission withthe force of argument rather than the argumentof force.2

BASIC PRINCIPLESRespect for equality before the lawArticle 3Police officers, in their procedures, shall ensurethat everyone is guaranteed equal human rightsand fundamental freedoms, irrespective of ethnicity,race, gender, language, religion, political orother conviction, material standing, education,social status or any other personal circumstance.Protection of reputationArticle 4Police officers, in performing their work and intheir private life, shall ensure the protection andpromotion of their own reputation and the reputationof the police organisation. Police officersshall focus especially on strengthening the integrityof the police organisation. In their work, policeofficers shall adhere to principles; they shallbe consistent, resolute, persistent, fair, professional,and in contacting people, state authorities,non-governmental organisations and otherinstitutions, they shall be polite and correct.3

IncorruptibilityArticle 5Police officers shall not require, for themselves orfor any other person, any special privileges, andshall be insusceptible to all forms of corruption.Public nature of workArticle 6Police officers shall earn sympathy, reputationand respect of the general public by performingtheir duties in a public, legal, professional, fair,polite and correct manner, and shall accept thepublic as a form of control over their work.Professionalism and independenceArticle 7To achieve professionalism in their work, policeofficers shall be adequately trained and shall receiveprofessional and advanced training, as wellas broaden their general knowledge and developspecific knowledge and skills necessary to performofficial duties.4

Police officers may associate in trade unions orprofessional and other similar associations inthe country and abroad. Their professional conductshould not be based on political convictionsand world-views.Protection of professional secrecyArticle 8Police officers shall protect professional secrecyand shall not use in an unauthorised manneror disclose data and information acquired inthe performance of official duties. In the courseof their work and in informing the public, theyshall be appropriately discreet.Mutual relationsArticle 9The relations between police officers shall bebased on mutual respect, mutual assistance andthe principles of solidarity, collegiality, toleranceand honesty, mutual trust and dignity, constructivecriticism and good communication.5

Their relations shall not be characterised by thephenomena of false solidarity, humiliation, underestimationand discrimination.Code complianceArticle 10Police officers shall be obliged to comply with thiscode, and shall therefore be well acquainted withit. They shall be aware of the moral responsibilityand moral consequences of any breach of theCode.Adopting and amending the CodeArticle 11The Code of Police Ethics shall be adopted andamended by the representative trade union ofthe Police and shall be subject to the approval ofDirector General of the Police.Amendments may be proposed by the representativetrade union and Director General of thePolice.6

Final provisionsArticle 12The principles of the Code shall be observed in allsecurity situations equally.Article 13The provisions of the Code shall be included inpolice training programmes, as well as in professionaland advanced training.Article 14The Code of Police Ethics shall enter into force onthe day of its adoption on 9 October 2008.7

VALUES AND VIRTUES EXPRESSINGTHE MISSION OF THE POLICEWE, THE POLICE OFFICERS:• SERVE THE PEOPLE• PROTECT HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY• PROTECT THE WEAK FROM THE STRONG• ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE ENJOYCONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL RIGHTSUNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS• HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY• SEPARATE PERSONAL MATTERS FROMOFFICIAL ONES• ARE BRAVE AND RESOLUTE EVEN WHEN LIFEIS IN DANGER• ARE AWARE THAT THE POLICE IDENTITYCARD REPRESENTS RESPONSIBILITY ANDPUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE• PRESERVE CONFIDENTIALITY AND DO NOTABUSE DATA AND INFORMATION• ALWAYS ACT IN AN ETHICAL, LAWFUL ANDPROFESSIONAL MANNER