1. Values-Based Policing in Scotland: ethical policing from poster to pavement
Police Scotland is a values-based organisation - how we serve our communities and interact with each other is as important as the results we achieve
This talk discusses the development of Police Scotland’s values and Code of Ethics and how they apply to all of us day-to-day
Dr Richie Adams
Police Scotland

2. Police Scotland…our journey
Different forces – different values
Creation of a set of shared and understood values
Creation of a new lexicon to reflect these

3. Police Scotland…our declaration
I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, and that I will uphold fundamental human rights and accord equal respect to all people, according to law.
Police and Fire Reform Act 2012
Organisational values set out what the particular organisation wants to be: to staff, customers; partners; and, for the public sector, communities
A ‘value’ is something that’s important in serving a cause or purpose - in the case of Police Scotland our purpose is ‘keeping people safe’ and our values set out how we must do that
Police Scotland consulted with around 300 people across the UK to discover what people thought the police service was for and how members of the service should behave
This 300 included: police officers; staff; diversity communities; academics; politicians; civil servants; lawyers; and lay advisors.
Integrity, fairness and respect emerged as the key values which all our people recognised as important
As a rights based organisation, it was also important to include Human Rights 
The new Declaration of Constable reflects our values – by law all police officers are deemed to have taken this
Police staff do not have to make this declaration, however these values should resonate with us all 

4. Police Scotland…our values
“We all need to operate with
Integrity
Fairness
Respect
and make these values touchstones for everything we do.”
Chief Constable Sir Stephen House
The Chief Constable has consistently said our values should be our ‘touchstones’ for all our interactions with each other and our communities.
In other words, our values must be the basis of everything we do and every decision we reach

5. Police Scotland…integrity
“The consistent ability to balance competing principles and thereafter deliver a service that is relevant both to the citizen and policing, which builds trust and is worthy of support from both those who are affected by the particular decision and those who are not.”
Integrity in policing is:
“The consistent ability to balance competing principles and thereafter deliver a service that is relevant both to the citizen and policing, which builds trust and is worthy of support from both those who are affected by the particular decision and those who are not”.
This requires us to think about our options before we act and ensure any decisions that each of us make withstand scrutiny

6. Police Scotland…our code of ethics
The Chief Constable has consistently said our values should be our ‘touchstones’ for all our interactions with each other and our communities.
In other words, our values must be the basis of everything we do and every decision we reach

7. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics -Integrity
I recognise my role in policing as being a symbol of public faith and trust and the obligation this places upon me to act with integrity, fairness and respect.
I shall, at all times, behave in a way, which reflects the values of policing.
I understand I am personally responsible for my own actions and will appropriately exercise my discretion.
I shall act as a positive role model in delivering a professional, impartial service, placing service to communities before my personal aims.

8. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics -Integrity
I will not accept any gift or gratuity that could, or could be perceived to, compromise my impartiality.
I shall avoid all behaviour which is or may be reasonably considered as abusive, bullying, harassing or victimizing.
I will demonstrate and promote good conduct and I will challenge the conduct of colleagues where I reasonably believe they have fallen below the standards set out in this Code.

9. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics -Fairness
I will act with courage and composure and shall face all challenges with self control, tolerance and impartiality.
I will promote a positive well being within the community and service and ensure that all people have fair and equal access to police services according to their needs.
I shall maintain an open attitude and continue to improve my understanding and awareness of cultural, social and community issues.
I will carry out my duties in a fair manner, guided by the principles of impartiality and non-discrimination.

10. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics -Respect
I take pride in working as part of a team dedicated to protecting people.
I will show respect for all people and their beliefs, values, cultures and individual needs.
I will have respect for all human dignity as I understand my attitude and the way I behave contributes to the consent communities have for policing.

11. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics -Respect
I will respect and uphold the law in order to maintain public confidence and, by enhancing my personal knowledge and experience, contribute to the professional development of policing.
I shall treat all people, including detained people, in a humane and dignified
manner.
I shall ensure that my relationships with colleagues is based on mutual
respect and understanding and shall, therefore, conduct all communications
on that basis

12. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics - Human Rights
I will not undertake high-risk activities or use force other than where strictly necessary in order to attain a legitimate objective and only after I have balanced all the competing priorities I am aware of. (Article 2)
I will not encourage, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or inhumane or
degrading treatment under any circumstance nor will I stand by and allow
others to do the same. I understand that the humane treatment of prisoners is
an essential element of policing and that the dignity of all those I am trusted to
care for remains my responsibility. (Article 3)

13. Police Scotland…Code of Ethics - Human Rights
I understand that people have an equal right to liberty and security. Accordingly, I will not deprive any person of that liberty, except in accordance with the law. (Article 5)
I will investigate crimes objectively and be sensitive to the particular needs of affected individuals whilst following the principle that everyone who is the subject of criminal investigation is innocent until found guilty by a court. (Article 6)
In carrying out my duties I shall respect everyone’s fundamental rights. I will only interfere with privacy or family life when I am legally authorized to do so. (Article 8)
I will respect individual freedoms of thought, conscience or religion, expression, peaceful assembly, movement and the peaceful enjoyment of possessions. (Articles 9,10,11)

15. Policing Communities…The Circle of Consent
“Accountability begins at the first encounter”
How we perform during each encounter we have with someone internally or externally is important as it will leave a lasting impression
During each encounter we have a number of options - the choices we make within these moments will shape the view a person has of policing and impact how that person interacts with the service in future.
We should continually ask ourselves “what impression did I leave today and am I proud of it”?
The way we manage engagements impacts how relevant the public see the police service; how much trust they have in us and how much support the police have within communities
This is equally true of how we engage with each other internally, we must manage interactions with each other inline with our values to maintain trust, support and relevance
This is represented by the “circle of consent”
Example scenario:
A female driver is parked on zigzag lines. She has three small children, all safely strapped into the backseat. There are no other adults in the car.
In order to deal with this offence an officer approaches the car, knocks on the window and tells the driver she is badly parked and asks her to take a seat in the police car, which is behind the offending vehicle. The driver complies with this request and is given a row by the officer, which lasts several minutes. He then issues her a ticket for parking on the zigzag lines.
On one level, the officer may view this interaction as a success. He has issued a ticket! He can go back to his sergeant and claim a success against the Police Scotland priorities. However, if we look at this more closely and against the Circle of Consent, success is harder to find.
A mother was taken away from her children for several minutes – although she was no more than 6 metres away, as far as the children were concerned, she could have been miles away. They had lost sight of their mum.
What impact does this have upon our relevancy with that family and with all those the driver told about this incident?
Similarly a trust issue may well arise - should any of these children go missing will they trust the police officers they see on the street looking for them or associate them with the people who took their mummy away?
Also, if we fast forward three weeks to the time when a neighbour of the family concerned have been subject to a housebreaking and the police call on them seeking support, is it less likely that will be given?
Solution?
It would have been just as easy to issue the ticket while speaking to the mother in front of her children or outside the car but in view of the children. By applying the values of Police Scotland to our decision-making, performance would still have been achieved, but in an ethical way that was above criticism.

16. Policing Communities…The Consent Ratio
Service delivery is made up of two elements - ‘what’ we do and ‘how’ we do it
The ‘what’ is our performance
The ‘how’ is the approach we take to retain the consent of our communities - all actions that we take must reflect our values and remain ethical to retain consent
When faced with a problem that could have more than one outcome, discretion is applied
(speaker note: if possible, include an example of discretion that relates to your audience)
The values of Police Scotland offer support in this – when you make discretionary decisions you should be sure the decisions you are reaching are fair, respectful and maintain the integrity of the police service
It is important to say that this work does not suggest that the volume on performance is turned down - what is essential is that there is an increased volume around ‘how’ we do things
Our values underpin our performance. If we don’t have our values at the very heart of what we do then what we achieve may be open to criticism and might be viewed as unethical.
How we do things is just as important as what we do!

17. Values…and policing by consent

18. Ethics…officer’s pressures
Police Officers
Law
Public
Global Environment
Leaders
Peers
Media
Elected Members
Family

19. The National Decision Model
The Code of Ethics is at the heart of The National Decision Model
This is the decision making model used in Scottish policing and, consequently, the decision making process we will be held to account under.
As decision makers, we need to ensure that at each stage of the decision making process, we refer to the Code of Ethics.
This approach will safeguard all our decisions and promote best practice both within the service and for our communities.

21. If you want to discuss this again…
@Richie3466
Dr Richie Adams