POLICE officers and staff in Derbyshire will soon be subject to the first-ever Code of Ethics in policing.
The code, developed by the College of Policing and officially launched this week, sets out standards of behaviour that the public can expect from officers and police staff in every role, at every level.
Its introduction has been welcomed by the county's force, police and crime commissioner and chairman of the county's police federation.
Mark Pickard, head of Derbyshire Police Federation, said: "Derbyshire Constabulary has looked at the new Code of Ethics and found that at least 90% of its provisions are covered by its existing policing values and working practices.
"Therefore there are only a few additions to our normal way of working to ensure it is encompassed within our daily business.
"Nevertheless, we are welcoming this new code."
The code lays out nine policing principles and 10 standards of professional behaviour covering honesty and integrity, authority, respect and diversity, use of force, orders and instructions, confidentiality and fitness for work.
To mark its official launch, the College of Policing asked 2,043 members of the public how they might deal with some of the ethical dilemmas faced each day by those in policing.
More than two-thirds of respondent, 68%, said they would not want to be in the position of a police officer or staff member when making those decisions and 40% of those surveyed felt the challenges facing the police when making decisions were harder than they previously thought
Derbyshire police and crime commissioner Alan Charles said: "The Code of Ethics is very closely aligned to the values by which Derbyshire Constabulary currently works and formalises the standards that the public can expect to receive.
"It will provide even greater reassurance to the public regarding the conduct of our officers and staff and personally, I welcome it."
Mr Pickard said: "The vast majority of people working in the police service are hard-working and honest people who just want to serve their communities. But this code highlights the standards expected of them.
"It brings us in line with other professions, such as medicine and law, where similar codes have been in place for some time."
Derbyshire Police also welcomed the new formal code of ethics.
Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "The Code of Ethics complements the strong value-led culture we already have in place within Derbyshire Constabulary.
"The thrust of the code is to promote awareness of how what members of the force do impacts upon the quality of service that we provide, the confidence that the public have in us and therefore the trust they place in us to do the right thing and protect them from harm. None of this is new to us.
"We have already taken action to implement elements of the code which do not already apply."
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