3.04 Ethical practice in policing

Academic team: Dr Anja Schaefer, Dr Owain Smolović Jones, Dr Diana Miranda, Ben Hargreaves
Policing partners: Lancashire Police, Metropolitan Police Service and Gwent Police
Status: Complete

An increased focus on ethics, including the introduction of the unified Code of Ethics, has been one response to the high level of political and media scrutiny of police conduct. This project builds on previous research conducted by the Centre for Policing Research and Learning and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the latter having implemented a code of ethics as part of the Northern Ireland peace process.

The aim of the research was to consider the newer context and practices of the Code of Ethics in English and Welsh police forces. The 12-month, in-depth, qualitative action-research project looked at:

  • police professionals’ construction of their professional and moral identities,
  • their engagement with codes of ethics and how this relates to their professional identity and their practice
  • the work of professional standards teams in ethical conduct by police officers and staff

Outputs

TitleOutput typeLead academicYear
Honouring the codeResearch paperSchaefer, Smolovic-Jones, Miranda2017
Ethical practice in policingFinal reportSchaefer, Smolovic-Jones, Miranda2017
Challenged bodies: identities at the front lineResearch paperSchaefer, Smolovic-Jones, Miranda2017

News

Photo of Ian, DI Mim Law and Nicky Arrowsmith

CPRL CPD programme sets new benchmark for investigative excellence

The States of Jersey Police recently completed a transformative Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme that is setting a new benchmark in investigative excellence and fostering increased public confidence in law enforcement. 

Designed and delivered by Ian McNeill, Senior Lecturer in CPD Development in Policing at the Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) at the Open University, the programme was developed in collaboration with the Operation Soteria Joint Unit and academics from across all six pillars of the Operation Soteria national programme.

28th April 2025
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