Print Republic of Latvia
Professional Ethics and Conduct Code of the State Police Personnel
This Code shall define the general rules of conduct and the basic principles of the professional ethics, to be observed by the State Police personnel performing their official duties, as well as beyond the place and time of service. A Police officer following the requirements of the Code shall have the rights of recognition on the part of the public and governance and moral support.
1. A Police officer performing his/her duties shall keep to the requirements of law, acting objectively and in a fair way, favouring with his/her conduct and action to call confidence to Police on the part of the public.
2. A Police officer executing orders and prescriptions received from the higher rank officials, shall be held personally liable for his actions. If an order or prescription is illegal, the Police officer shall keep informed of it the higher rank official. If a Police officer refuses to perform any illegal order or prescription, he/she shall not be subject to the disciplinary proceedings.
3. A Police officer performing his/her duties ensures observation of human rights of every individual, irrespective of his/her nationality, race, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, age, education, social status.
4. A Police officer in his/her interaction with inhabitants respecting and defending dignity of a human being shall be decent and tolerant.
5. A Police officer shall not support, shall not admit and shall not encourage any torturing actions or cruel, brutal, inhuman, humiliating actions taken against any person.
6. A Police officer shall use force, special facilities or weapon only in the cases stipulated by due course of law and to attain a legal aim. The use of spontaneous or ill-intentioned force, special facilities or weapon shall not be justified.
7. A Police officer shall also render aid beyond the place and time of service on his/her own initiative to the person being endangered, who occurred in helpless condition, as well as shall take measures for preventing from the stated violation of law.
8. Personal conduct of a Police officer shall be irreproachable in performing the official duties and in his/her personal life, without the prejudice for the service and his/her own reputation.
9. A Police officer shall not disclose any official information known to him/her, except the cases provided for by law.
10. A Police officer in relationship with the colleagues, a chief or the persons subordinated shall adhere to a particular subordination order, shall display due comity and dignity in interrelationship.
11. A Police officer in his/her attitude to a person may not create the grounds for suspicion in unfair action or affecting the situation.
12. A Police officer shall not receive material values, services from the persons who anyhow might influence performing of his official duties and decision making.
13. A Police officer shall not use his/her official standing or the state property, as well as the information that became known to him/her performing his/her official duties to derive a personal or property benefit for himself/herself or his/her relatives.
14. A Police officer shall combat any signs of corruption in the Police and keep informed the higher rank official or any other authoritative body regarding any case of corruption in the Police.
15. A Police officer shall keep informed the higher rank official of the conflict of interests arisen.
16. A Police officer shall continuously improve his/her professional skills.
17. Top management of the Police shall support and protect a Police officer who suffered harm when performing his/her official duties.
18. Any natural or legal person may apply with a complaint to the direct chief or to the higher rank official of a Police officer if he/she infringes the basic principles of the general rules of conduct and the professional ethics defined in the Code.
19. A Police officer shall be held liable in the order duly established by law and legislative acts for violation of the basic principles of the general rules of conduct and the professional ethics defined in the Code.