Code of Ethics for the Garda Síochána

1 code of Ethics for the Garda S och na RPC008780_BI_PR_L_1. The Policing Principles established by the Garda S och n Act 2005. Policing services must be provided: Independently and impartially, In a manner that respects human rights, and In a manner that supports the proper and effective administration of justice Effective and efficient policing depends on securing the confidence, support and cooperation of local communities and engaging with those communities. ISBN: 978-0-9957249-0-7. Policing Authority, 4th Floor, 90 King Street North, Dublin 7. email: This document has been prepared using plain English writing and design guidelines. code of Ethics for the Garda S och na Garda Commissioner's Foreword An Garda S och na welcomes the The ethical commitments do bring a new establishment of a code of Ethics which perspective on our tradition of service.

2 Can only enhance the level of standards However, this new perspective also adds and conduct which is expected of everyone new life to the core values of a proud working in the organisation; in all our func- organisation serving the community since tions including assisting victims of crime; the foundation of the State. crime prevention; community engagement;. crime investigation; road safety; and the At the launch of the report On the delivery of our internal back of office Importance of Ethics , one output of his services. I would like to thank the Policing Ethics initiative, President Higgins reflected Authority and all those who contributed that Ireland is an ethical society, but that time and energy; who made submissions; there is no longer a single moral authority and who put forward ideas on the format and or single set of values that are widely held.

3 Content of this new code . He argued that this means there must be a renewed focus on the common good . An Garda S och na has a proud tradition At the heart of the commitments in this in serving communities and protecting the code is the principle that every Garda State with over 16,000 dedicated Garda member, Civilian and Reserve member, of all members, Civilians and Reserve members ranks and grades, treats others the way they committed to the objective of ensuring that would expect to be treated themselves, in a functioning police and security service is consideration of the common good . the cornerstone of a democratic and progressive society. This code builds on the The next stage of this process will be to core values of the organisation of delivering embed the code into the day to day Service with Honesty; Accountability; thinking and actions of the organisation.

4 Respect; Professionalism and Empathy. It is essential that the code is embraced and understood by everyone in An Garda Our founding Commissioner, S och na. In that regard, I look forward to Michael Staines, envisaged the success of the engagement of everyone working in An An Garda S och na would be dependent on Garda S och na and their representative its moral authority as servants of the people. bodies on the development of the training Michael Staines may never have envisaged and implementation plan for the roll out of the preparation of this document. this code . However, he most certainly saw that the moral authority of the organisation came N ir n O'Sullivan from the behaviours which are based on a Garda Commissioner set of ethical attitudes, beliefs and principles. This code sets out nine ethical standards and the ethical commitments required to meet these standards.

5 1. Authority Chairperson's Foreword Police services the world over are conferred This code of Ethics has been prepared by with great powers. Society consents to the the Policing Authority in accordance with use of those powers and trusts that they will the Garda S och na Act 2005. In preparing be used in the common good. the code , the Authority engaged with very This simple equation asks a lot of police many stakeholders in policing in Ireland. services. It held a number of stakeholder events and put out calls for written submissions. In Ireland we ask a lot of the Garda S och na. We ask them to keep us, our The Authority gratefully acknowledges the families and our communities safe in our ideas and comments which were received homes, in our cars, in public places. from a whole range of people, including We ask them to keep our country secure.

6 Those who work in the Garda S och na, We ask them to work with communities members of the public, and statutory and to meet diverse needs and expectations. civil society organisations. Although we We expect them to respond when we're have not been able to accommodate the victims of crime. We expect them to be viewpoints of everyone, all contributions the backstop for a whole range of society's were fully considered and have informed the problems. development of this code . In carrying out their work we expect Garda Now that the code has been established, to use the powers given to them in law to it is vitally important that active steps are protect us, and we also expect them to use taken to ensure that it is embedded into those powers proportionately and properly. the day to day work of the Garda S och na. Properly is a broad concept, extending I welcome the commitment from the Garda beyond what may be written in the law from Commissioner to ensuring that it becomes a time to time.

7 Society asks that those who living document. work in the Garda S och na demonstrate the highest standards of conduct in their The Authority is convinced that the code professional and personal lives and this can contribute to the renewal of the culture code of Ethics reflects that. in the Garda S och na, grow the Garda S och na's positive relationship with Irish Being seen to achieve high standards is at society, continue to promote trust in and the heart of public confidence and support respect for everyone working in the Garda for the Garda S och na. Public support for S och na, and thereby contribute to the Garda is already strong but can only be improving policing services in Ireland for enhanced when the public can see that the everyone. men and women who work in their police service abide by the same rules that they Josephine Feehily themselves are expected to abide by, and Chairperson, Policing Authority hold themselves to standards which are not just in accordance with the law but are also ethical.

8 2. Introduction The code of Ethics for the Garda S och na sets out guiding principles to inform and guide the actions of every member of staff of the Garda S och na at every level of the organisation. The code is intended to inspire The code sets out nine standards of everyone working in the Garda S och na conduct and practice for everyone in the to achieve high goals in daily work and Garda S och na, each with a number of life. Policing plays an essential and commitments. It has been developed by important role in the democratic life of the Policing Authority in accordance with the state and in the daily lives of its the Garda S och na Act 2005, as people. That is a high calling that merits amended in 2015. The code has regard clear, widely understood ethical to the Policing Principles set out in that standards. By promoting these Act.

9 Standards, the Garda S och na will build and maintain the trust of the public and Those principles provide that policing contribute to a safe and peaceful society. must be carried out in a manner that is independent and impartial, that respects The standards contained in the code will human rights, and that supports the not come as a surprise to anyone who proper and effective administration of works in the Garda S och na. justice. This code does not apply in The tradition of service for almost a isolation. It should be read in the context century, the solemn declaration made on of relevant national and international law, attestation, the internal codes of the as well as applicable Civil Service and organisation all of these articulate Garda policies. values and set standards. In addition, there is a wide range of Civil Service and Many working in the Garda S och na Garda policies and procedures that reflect have significant autonomy in their daily statutory provisions or guide behaviour.

10 Duties. They are required to exercise What is important about this code is the considerable discretion in fulfilling their clear statement it makes to the public, responsibilities. They are on the spot;. the fact that it has a statutory basis and they respond to given situations; they that its implementation will be overseen make instant decisions. This code does by the Authority. not change that. But this autonomy and 3. need for discretion means that ethical behaviour is an essential part of the work of everyone in the Garda S och na. This code is at once a statement of the ethical requirements for everyone working in the Garda S och na and a clear indication to the public of the norms Policing is an of behaviour that they are entitled to expect. Policing is an honourable honourable profession of which the public expect the highest standards of conduct and profession of practice.