Policing Ethics And Human Rights

This book aims to provide an accessible introduction to the key issues surrounding ethics in policing, linking this to recent developments and new human rights legislation. It sets out a powerful case for a modern 'ethical policing' approach, and argues that securing and protecting human rights should be a major, if not the major, rationale for public policing.

This is a second, thoroughly revised and expanded edition of a book that has four clear objectives: to provide a concise account and analysis of international human rights and humanitarian law standards relevant to policing; to set out arguments for compliance with those standards; to show how they may be met in two key areas of policing, interviewing suspects of crime, and policing in times of armed conflict, disturbance and tension; and to make practical recommendations on the management of police agencies. Good practice on interviewing suspects and on policing conflict is included because they are areas of policing where human rights are most at risk. Good management practice is included because intelligent management by enlightened leaders is necessary to secure effective, lawful and humane policing.

This book provides an updated overview of current international human rights law relating to the police. Around the globe, the police have a special responsibility for the protection of human rights. Police work is governed by national rules and in addition, in today’s world, by the evolving international human rights standards. As a result of the ever-developing case law of international courts and other bodies, the requirements of human rights law on policing have become more and more detailed and complex in recent years. Bringing together a variety of distinguished authors from academia, police forces and other government authorities, the human rights movement, and international organizations, the book discusses topical issues, including the use of deadly force, the prevention of torture, effective investigations, the protection of personal data, and positive obligations of the police.

With debate about police ethics intensifying, this stimulating book considers afresh the fundamental role of officers and their relations with society. - It is a comprehensive and up to date introduction to ethical policing, taking a moral philosophical perspective to the evidence base and literature on the subject. - Leading contemporary thinker Dominic Wood tackles the ethical issues of policing as a matter of compliance and discipline and reviews them in the context of contemporary challenges in policing and the wider criminal justice framework. - From the parameters of moral policing to the role of human rights to embedding ethics within police operations, this is a thorough overview of the subject of police ethics and legitimacy, and a springboard for further research and analysis. A timely contribution to discussions about the police and their legitimacy, this is essential reading for all those studying, teaching and leading the profession.

This is a collection of essays that address the task of strengthening respect for human dignity in both the attitudes and behavior of police officers. The book's guiding theme is that integrity in police work is essential to viable and effective law enforcement. Central to the issue is how to oversee and control the behavior and actions of police, how to eliminate misuse of authority and excessive force against citizens. The book describes positive and effective steps to begin to change the culture of policing through carefully constructed, appropriate training and individual officer development.

This third edition has been comprehensively revised, expanding the information in the previous edition on the long-standing challenge of implementing effective, responsible, and acceptable practices in ethical police work. The author’s unique perspective provides insights not found elsewhere and presents them in an informative, fact-filled, and encouraging way. The text is based on the premise that ethical crisis has always existed in law enforcement and stresses that policing is and always has been a “morally dangerous occupation.” The moral dangers of policing are discussed in detail and emphasize how crucial ethical standards are for police officers. Four critical and primary questions addressed in the text are: Is law enforcement a profession? Can law enforcement officers be professional? What forms of behavior are the major law enforcement ethical violations? Can police ethical violations be controlled? Several chapters also thoroughly review the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and include very up-to-date examples of notable violations by individual officers and police departments. Additional topics include major police corruption issues, including corrupt practices and corruption control; abuse of authority; and getting effective control of unethical behavior. The goal of this timely new edition is to provide officers, law enforcement managers, and city administrators with only the most current information, tools, and skills in identifying and dealing with unethical police behavior. It is valuable to both new and seasoned officers in a significant effort to make policing a true profession that is real and not rhetoric.

This is a unique book in that it distils the knowledge, ideas and experience of three police professionals in the cause of a human rights-based approach to policing. The book is written for an audience of police officials, human rights workers with an interest in human rights and policing, and resource persons and teachers responsible for the education of police officials. It provides a concise account and analysis of international human rights standards and best practice appertaining to key areas of policing, and it sets out a clear strategy to bring about change, organisational and thence behavioural, within police organisations. To focus on human rights and best practice in policing is not only important as an end in itself, it is also important as a means of securing effective policing for the support of the community. Effective policing in a democracy is dependent upon police respecting the rule of law and human rights.

This book offers the fullest, most rigorous and up-to-date treatment of police ethics currently available.