The United Nations Civilian Police is an important part of UN peacekeeping operations and other UN field missions around the world. In Kosovo, for example, the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) deployed 4,700 civilian police officials to develop a future police service for the territory and this UNMIK police force was the first UN international police force with full executive law enforcement authority. East Timor and Bosnia and Herzegovina are two other examples of nations where UN Civilian Police officials have been deployed. The mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina was, however, replaced by the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) in January 2003.

All UN Civilian Police officials have to act according to the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and other relevant UN documents. The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination are examples of other UN instruments that are relevant to UN Civilian Police officials.

Provisions dealing with police powers of investigation, such as the authorization to conduct criminal investigations and victim protection, can be found in the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power and in the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials. Article 1 of the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials authorizes the police to conduct criminal investigations, stating that law enforcement officials shall at all times serve the community and protect persons against illegal acts. Article 16 of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power stresses the importance of training for police and other officials working with victims and emphasizes the need for the police to develop standard operating procedures that ensure that victims will receive proper and prompt aid.

Police powers to maintain public order are regulated under the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. Articles 3, 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct state that no law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, that law enforcement officials shall protect the health of persons in their custody and that law enforcement officials are allowed to use force only when it is absolutely necessary. The use of force by law enforcement officials is also regulated under the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

Provisions regarding police ethics, misconduct, training and reporting are found in the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. Articles 2 and 8 of the Code of Conduct ensure that law enforcement officials respect and protect human dignity and that they respect the law and the Code. Guidelines for the recruitment and training of law enforcement officials are found in the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which also regulates the report and review procedures in Articles 24-26.

Analysis provided by: Maria Bideke, International lawyer and Director of Law Association Justice International.