Code of Police Ethics

The Code of Police Ethics contains general basic principles, regulates interacting relation between the authorised personnel of the internal affairs bodies in the Republic of Slovenia (policeman and police women, hereinafter officer or police) and their relations towards citizens, institutions and agencies and defines the responsibility for breaches of the Code. It takes account of the rules included in the general Declaration of the United Nations on Human Rights, International Treaty on Civil and Political Rights, Declaration on Protection of All people from Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Humiliating Treating or Punishment, Declaration on Police or Other International Documents, in the Constitution, Laws and other regulations of the Republic of Slovenia and represents the superstructure of the moral and ethical standards of the police.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

The code of Police Ethics is the expression of the will and awareness of all officers of the necessity for lawful, just, humane, and considerate behaviour when performing their duties. It binds all officers of the force in the Republic of Slovenia.

Article 2

The police are a public service and are at the disposal to all citizens and institutions in the scope of their competence.

Article 3

Officers ensure the protection and respect of human rights and fundamental freedom; when lawfullly intervening in them they must respect the human personality and its dignity. The human personality and its dignity must be protected through the prevention of any kind of violence, inhuman treatment or other actions which are humiliating to people.

Article 4

An officer is morally responsible if his actions are in conflict with the Code. When an officer’s actions are in accordance with the Code in job regulations, he enjoys the appropriate protection of the superior officer from any attempts to undermine the value of his work and personality.

In this case he has the right to moral and other support of the community in which he performs his duties.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Constitutionality legality, responsibility

Article 5

An officer is aware that his activity is not only a formality obliged by the Constitution, laws and other regulations and that his responsibility does not cover only a narrow understanding of rights and duties for implementing the powers but that it means also his own sense of value towards moral, ethical, and other values and principles which define the role of the police in society.

Article 6

When an officer is required to perform a task which is against regulations and his powers he is obliged to refuse the task and act within the regulation governing this field. It is not possible to pronounce an imposition, disciplinary act or any other sanction on the officer who has declined to perform an unlawful act.

Article 7

When implementing police procedures an officer undertakes that the same human rights and fundamental freedoms are assured to each individual irrespective of nationality, race, sex, language, religion, political or other belief, financial status, birth, education, social position or any other personal circumstance.

Humanity

Article 8

When implementing his powers and official duties in procedures with members of the public, an officer should act resolutely but tactfully and at the same time be careful not to damage their honour and good name and not to disturb them unnecessarily or impose unnecessarily obligations on them. His special concern goes to the persons who need additional attention, help and care.

Protection of reputation

Article 9

Officers protect and consolidate the reputation of the police force when performing official duties as well as in their personal lives. When performing official duties their personal presentation is exemplary, as required by the regulations, they are impartial, polite, professional, consistent, and immune to any form of bribe. Officers have no privileges nor do they require them for themselves or anybody else, and have no other advantages over other citizens.

Professionalism and independence

Article 10

Through public, lawful, honest, polite, and professional work an officer gains the good will of the public and he acknowledges the public as a form of control over his work.

Article 11

An officer is appropriately educated for the professional fulfilment of duties and he also undergoes professional training. He is well versed in general knowledge and develops those skills which are necessary for performing official duties. An officer must not be a member of political parties; his professional performance cannot depend on his political views and world outlook. The changing of political parties in power must not influence the professionalism of the police. An officer may join a trade, professional or other union in his own country and in the international sphere.

Protection of professional secrets

Article 12

It is the officer’s right and duty to protect professional secrets. An officer does not use and divulge the information which he has obtained when performing official duties. He does not publicly reveal the names involved in those cases which are still being investigated. He is appropriately discreet. The duty of protecting professional secrets does not expire at the termination of police service.

Internal relations

Article 13

The relations between officers are based on a definite hierarchical order and mutual respect, mutual assistance and solidarity, friendship, tolerance, sincerity, mutual trust, and dignity. All this encourages professionalism, innovation, mutual dialogue and high professionalism of the police profession. Such relations cannot accommodate the phenomena as humiliation, underestimation, and disdain.

Article 14

An officer may perform independent scientific and pedagogical work, public work in the publishing field and also in cultural, artistic, sports, humanitarian, and other similar organizations. On the basis of a permit written by his supervisor he may also perform other kinds of work outside the police service if such work is not indirectly connected with the work inside the police service.

In doing so he must not use information protected as official secret and he must not take advantage of his influence as a police officer.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR BREACHES OF THE CODE

(HONORARY TRIBUNAL)

Article 15

The Honorary Tribunal, founded on the level of the Republic, establishes moral responsibility for breaches of the Code.

Proceedings in the Honorary Tribunal are started on the initiative of a citizen, a superior of the police unit, police trade union, an affected officer or the Honorary Tribunal itself.

Article 16

The Honorary Tribunal, consists of seven members who are of high reputation both within the police force and publicly. Three members are not from the police. The Honorary Tribunal adopts points of order governing its work.

Article 17

The Honorary Tribunal takes decisions at public meetings. It adapts moral standards which are published in the police gazette and when necessary also in other public organs.

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 18

The principles of the Code are observed in all security situations equally.

Article 19

The principles of the Code form part of the educational work of police schools.

Article 20

A new police recruit signs a statement that he accepts the contents of the Code on joining the force.

Article 21

The Code of Police Ethics comes into force on the day of its public proclamation.