EVERYONE employed by Dorset Police is expected to work to ‘exemplary standards’ as the force signs up to an ethical code.

Dorset Police has adopted the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics launched today.

It sets out nine policing principles and 10 standards of professional behaviour and encourages officers and staff to challenge those who fall short of the code.

The code will be adopted by everyone within Dorset Police and will become a Code of Practice under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: “Today Dorset Police has formally adopted the Code of Ethics and it is something all officers and staff are expected to sign up to and adhere to in their everyday work.

“The Code of Ethics is about self-awareness, ensuring that everyone in policing is empowered to always do the right thing and feel confident to challenge colleagues irrespective of their rank, role or position.

“It is important that the force values still exist and they are at the heart of the implementation of the code.

“To ensure chartered professional status there are three things that the service must do.

The first is the continued professional development of staff to ensure the service we provide is of the highest standards. The second is that independent decisions can be made at all levels in the organisations and the third is a Code of Ethics.

“All three things are required to secure a chartered professional status and the Code of Ethics is the final strand to enable the service to achieve this.”

College of Policing Chair, Professor Dame Shirley Pearce, said: “Ethical behaviour comes from the values, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge that guide the judgements of each individual.

“We can, as the professional body for policing, make clear the principles that we expect to guide the decisions that those in policing make in everything they do. We can also make it clear what happens when those expectations are not met.”

In developing and delivering the Code of Ethics, the college worked with representatives of the Police Federation, the Superintendents’ Association, Association of Chief Police Officers, UNISON and Police and Crime Commissioners.