Police officers told to be polite or face the consequences
POLICE officers will be told to be polite to members of the public or face disciplinary action.
Officers will be told to treat the public and colleagues with “courtesy and respect”, as part of a new 10-point code of ethics due to be announced next week.
They will also be issued with orders relating to the use of drugs or having sex while on duty. Other advice will include not arriving for work “unfit or impaired for duty as a result of drinking alcohol”.
Under the guidelines, drawn up by the Royal College of Policing, officers will be encouraged to report their colleagues if they are believed to have breached ethical and professional guidelines.
Officers will be encouraged to report their colleagues if they are believed to have breached ethical and professional guidelines
Those reported could then face disciplinary action and even the sack.
The plans already have the backing of Home Secretary Theresa May and policing minister.
The police are going on a charm offensive with the general public after a string of scandals that has tarnished its image.
These include the Plebgate incident, in which former Tory whip Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling Downing Street officers “plebs”. The row has so far cost four officers their jobs.
The police have also been accused of mishandling the Hillsborough disaster and have been hurt by the outrage over phone hacking.
