Police Ethics and Integrity - Essay Example

?POLICE AND SOCIETY ASSIGNMENT Question 3 Police corruption is ‘the misuse ity by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for the officer or for others” (Per Goldstein (1977) Policing in a Free Society). Critically discuss the principles of police ethics and the methods of accountability that can be used to identify and deter police corruption. Introduction Since the late 1990s, various scandals have placed the matter of police corruption on the watch out. The history of British policing has comprised of many high profile instances of severe malpractice, inclusive of the concealment of critical crimes, invention and planning of evidence, and bribery. Lately, in London, disgraces revolved around police involvement in and disbursements from organized crime, especially in drug squads and obscene publication squads. Other scandals include beating up of suspects, perjury, and tampering with confessional evidence. The Metropolitan Service recently investigated cases, which have brought in more attention to officers, mostly in specialized squads, benefiting from their position, such as through theft of money, protection of criminals, and the resale of detained drugs (Lesage, 2005). An increase in recognition of the prevalent nature of police corruption has resulted in significant developments in Wales and England. Task forces are being put in place to create good practice guidance in preventing corruption by the police. At a force level, corruption concerns and their professional standards have resulted in institution of ‘professional stands units’ in most of the police forces in Wales and England, which are dedicated to investigating and identifying corruption, misconduct, fraud, domestic violence, racist, sexist, or homophobic behavior, spurious claims of sickness to be granted a sick leave, and criminality among police staff. Principles of Police ethics and methods of accountability to deter police corruption Promoting an ethical culture “Policing by example” is one of the police strategies that have been incorporated in West Midlands, and involves various themes to set high standards of behavior in professional practices and in dealing with the public. It emphasizes high standards in the workplace and the significance of leadership. This ensures that harassment and other victimization forms are not tolerated, including the protection of policemen who report unethical actions among colleagues. “Policing by example” is an idea that can be promoted in other parts of the UK through glossy documents distributed in major police forces and training intended to raise awareness and guidance to challenge unacceptable behavior. There should be developments in political and public culture of civil liberties and individual rights in the UK to encourage more open public criticism on ethics of the police, especially in relation to minorities. Groups and communities should be organized to represent those who can rally community opinion and criticize police practice, which is in support of more external and legal regulation. It is logical to assume that this principle towards special interest group alarm about civil or legal rights and minority claims will increase open support for more aggressive governance and civil regulation of the police. Consequently, the government will be forced to put in place these new and more aggressive national demands for police accountability. The new Police accountability Basing on a neo-liberal critique of traditional management and government of the police, new philosophies and internal self-governance forms are being proposed. The entire political governance of the police is shifting away from the old models of reactive accountability that depend on the application of hierarchical, external legal rules, central regulations, and discipline that is punishment-centered. This traditional model of public review or accountability has failed to provide effective police accountability basically because of the resistance and resilient nature of professional police culture and its incapability to control or change it (Travers, 2007). However, the new police accountability covers a potion of a more general movement towards a new national sector management that stresses closely managed self-governance and regulation, strengthened by external omission. Police organizations should be more closely administered and scrutinized internally by a maze of management technologies, systems, and procedures and externally through more detailed public complaint structures and auditors. This new accountability shifts away from ‘deterrence and punishment’ towards compliance and ways of regulation intended to reducing risk and preventing harm through tighter surveillance, audit, inspection, and regulation. While the old principle of accountability is perceived to have not succeeded, the new accountability has also not been extremely successful, but it may gradually thrive as modes of internal self-regulation and self-governance are more satisfactory to police culture than more legalistic, traditional, external accountability measures. Conclusively, the future of police accountability will lie in more effective and elaborate modes of self-governance and internal management, and not in more powerful and intricate forms of external control and governance. The Rationalization of Self-governance and autonomy Police claims to self-regulation and autonomy are in a part a role of their special legal authorities and the threat of excessive political control, though this claim is also founded on a relentless if not always realistic claim to professionalism. Occupational credibility relies on persuasive displays of fair, effective, and appropriate control and regulation of the activities of the staff. While police have similar qualities of an occupation, they fail to meet some of the necessary standards such as credible and an effective internal ethical and disciplinary system as well as academic and scientifically verified knowledge foundation that informs their daily practices. The police have for a long time lacked to demonstrate either the ability or willingness to govern the ethics of their staff at least in ways that display political and public assurance. Whether they are professional or not, police will increasingly be expected to document, standardize, and justify their autonomy. Such a political trend may affect them if they desire to maintain their present level of control and self-governance (Lesage, 2005). This trend to expand and formalize internal accountability and the growing regulation of prepared autonomy is persistent in the UK laws and will influence the creation of new principles of police governance and accountability. Information security ought to be the main focus to prevent corruption The important role played by the disclosure of information in corruption image means that data security needs to be a foundation for corruption deterrence strategies. Even though policies like those employed in Kent County Constabulary are a vital starting point for this measure, information security tactics should be developed further. Force contactors and (PITO) Police Information Technology Organization should be recommended and systems designed to provide a basis for extra investigation. Increase in public and media scrutiny of policing Until recently, police work has been a hugely secretive occupation, not within the public eye, and out of critical media examination. Many accounts of police activities depended on the police themselves, with the coverage being limited and favorable. The media were satisfied to report and approve police details for their own actions, and there was limited ability or interest to give alternative accounts. This respect for, and distance from the police has changed and emphasis by the media on crisis and drama has made the police force newsworthy. More informed and independent reporting has meant further more questioning, aggressive, and critical press coverage for the officers and maybe a more sensible appraisal for their vital but at times flawed profession. However, this system in critical media coverage and reporting is likely to go on and make it even harder for police to manage or project accounts of their actions (Lesage, 2005). Thus the trend towards a more critical and aggressive media environment may continue to form the dynamics and politics of civilian review and he role of the police within it. With this in mind, a related but significant trend is the growing surveillance of the activities of police through public technologies like video-phones and video cameras. Their massive popularity can add a “new media” to critically scrutinize police actions. Police proceedings that were once private can be displayed publicly for anyone with an internet connection or a television. For example, policy change and public outrage over the usage of conducted vigor weapons were animated clearly by use of an unsystematic bystander’s video-phone. Public surveillance technology can enable the police to be monitored by the public thus making it harder for them to prevent public criticism, opinion, or review. New surveillance and media scrutiny will dramatically amplify elements and incidences of police deviance, giving way to public arguments for a critical civilian review and directive. Proposed strategies should target both non-work and work factors Factors outside the workplace may play a big role in cultivating corruption. They include domestic issues, involving social networks among the police force that link them with criminals. Vetting processes at the stage of recruitment for both support staff and officers and for more sensitive positions clearly need to consider this. Training needs to emphasis the risks faced by the police staff outside the job vicinity so tat they are prepared to manage risks as well as avoiding potential compromise. Other measures worth of consideration are proactive welfare interventions, to assist the police with domestic problems (Travers, 2007). This could involve some kind of habitual welfare session with a counselor, where officers are given a chance to table any personal or family issues. Similarly, forces may regard providing financial administration services to the police staff so that their chances of asking for bribes can be reduced greatly. Hiring ethical individuals A major consideration in avoiding misconduct and other corrupt actions is to stop hiring unethical persons. Agencies must adequately screen candidates and recruit the most conscientious ones since they have a higher level of integrity. Through conduct, conscientiousness can be assessed since an incorruptible individual is truthful in word and also in deed, on the basis that truthfulness is a second nature in his actions. Once new hires are working, the officers must continue to work in order to create an atmosphere of integrity and ethics. Fostering this climate is an essential part of reducing corruption among the police. In a study carried out by the National Checking Service (NCS), London, seven of the top ten matters regarded as critically central to officers keenly working in the law enforcement field involved integrity and ethics (Westmarland, 2005). Positively, the study concluded that most of the agencies surveyed, (about 80%) commit resources of training instructors to teach courses on ethics, while 72% of the organizations confirmed that they offer some ethics-related teaching beyond the necessary academy experience. However, while majority of the agencies teach recruits about ethics in the college, only a shocking minority had ethics as a ranked category in their reports on field training for the new officers. With such an illustration, training hours should be expanded, more quality training equipment, and greater participation in ethics training at all police levels, but the amount of time dedicated to this training remains rather of less Importance in the face of such a need. Techniques for complying with the fact that officers fail to control their roles as police, but do have total control over their professionalism and integrity have to be taught and be put into practice (Westmarland, 2005). Differential reinforcement Often, police scholars in England comment on the significance of peer approval and acceptance, regarding their own beliefs and behaviors. Notably, police officers engage in particular behaviors to maintain a good image in a desirable professional environment. Moreover, it is suggested that officers practice corrupt behavior via the reinforcements acquired from the sub cultural group. A subculture is an authoritative reference group that has a large capability for the reinforcement of corruption, which arises from interaction during which an officer learns such behavior according to the responses of others. Selecting and continuing to associate with other officers are both functions of differential reinforcement, but in the special situation of the police subculture, it turns to be harder to detect whether peers are corrupt or not. Oath of office In support of the Constabulary oath, police regulations endorse rules that a sworn-in member may not adhere to. Appropriate standards of integrity and conduct can be inferred from the double influence of the regulations and the oath. If the officer’s behavior fails to adhere, the disciplinary action should follow, with a quasi-criminal process. Assuming lesser action like an adverse report not being justified, or in this case corrupt, he must plead guilty, or proved guilty of misuse of authority, neglect of duty, or misconduct by a police tribunal. An oath is a symbolic undertaking and conveys a personal and solemn responsibility to be just and fair in their activities. This step may be effective to deter the sworn-in staff from carrying out corrupt deals as it will unify all the staff with a shared commitment to serve the community. Use of policy manuals It is highly probable that if a police agency’s policy permits that supervisors report on incidents of corruption and use of force, the rates of such incidents will decline. Thus, the duty manuals and organizational structure of police institutions affect their behavior (Travers, 2007). However, there are other inhibitors that weaken the efficiency of the duty manuals; a well-written policy may not be of help in imposing policies if the officers are not aware of it or how to apply the policy. It should be comprehensive and clear since stronger policies prevent police misconduct and should guide both the public and the officers on how to act in particular situations. Conclusion Policing calls for unyielding ethics and perfection and ultimately depends on each officer’s own level of rationality, knowledge, and devotion to ethical excellence. Corruption can be disastrous to the police department, the society, and on individual level. While police are only human and do make mistakes, corruption can never be tolerated. A policy must be put in place to spell out their standards and ethical missions that officers must adhere to. Additionally, the future duties of the police in the review and investigative process lie in motivating more effective internal accountability and self-governance and at the same time developing more collaborative but powerful investigative modes and civilian oversight. To be effective, these principles must address legal police concerns about fair and informed investigations of their actions as well as ensuring that legal rights and public interests are protected. To completely deter police corruption, police organizations should be accountable to law and public opinion just like all public institutions. References Lesage, J 2005, Report on the police complaints system in Ontario, Gowlings, Toronto. Travers, M 2007, The new bureaucracy: quality assurance and its critics, The Policy Press, Bristol. Westmarland, L 2005, Police ethics and integrity: breaking the blue code of silence. Policing & Society, London. 15(2), 145-165. Read More