Chief Constable Stephen Watson welcomes guests for Code of Ethics consultation

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson met with College of Policing CC Andy Marsh today (Thursday 23 March) to mark the launch of the consultation for the new Code of Ethics.

The meeting kicked off CC Marsh’s afternoon of visiting Force Headquarters, Cheetham Hill and the City of Manchester District.

A robust new Code of Ethics for more than 200,000 people working across policing in England and Wales is open for consultation to the Greater Manchester public. 

The proposals would put public service, courage and respect and empathy at the heart of everything police officers and colleagues do.

The Code of Ethics, first introduced to policing nine years ago, is designed to guide ethical decision making by all officers and colleagues. It outlines the professional behaviours that the public can expect from the police service.

For the first time, it will include a specific code which sets a statutory requirement for chief officers in the form of a Code of Practice.

This provides direction to chief officers on how they can promote and support a professional culture in their force.

CC Stephen Watson (right) with Kate Green and CC Andy Marsh

CC Watson, who recently joined the College of Policing as a non-executive director, said: “It was a great pleasure to welcome Chief Constable Marsh to GMP and to show him some of the great work taking place around the force.

“The Code of Ethics sets out how police forces across the country work with the public in order for us to keep people safe, so the consultation phase is hugely important.

“It provides a framework to guide the actions taken and decisions made by police officers, PCSOs, police staff, Special Constables and other volunteers every day.

“The code will not only help build public trust and confidence in police forces but will also guide officers in the way they respond and serve the public.”

CoP CC Marsh added: “It was a pleasure to launch the consultation for the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics at Greater Manchester Police. I saw first-hand how hard the officers and staff at GMP are working to rebuild the public’s trust in policing.

“The Code of Ethics was first published in 2014 and has been updated to reflect the modern-day challenges we face. It commits us to prioritising public service by always acting in the public interest, leading with courage by challenging wrongdoing when we see it and responding with respect and empathy at every call we attend.

“It’s really important we hear views from both within and outside policing as part of this consultation, and I encourage everyone to take five minutes to tell us what they think.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, joined CC Marsh in visiting FHQ.

She said: “Recent events have shown us that standards and behaviour have never been so important in policing. Our police forces should be leading by the highest example, and while the current police Code of Ethics is widely recognised by staff, it has sadly not been enough to reduce unprofessional behaviour.

“I therefore welcome the College of Policing consultation on a new Code of Ethics, and I want to encourage staff and the public to have their say.

“This should include an ethical duty of candour to encourage openness and honesty from those working in police forces when things go wrong. That means apologising for mistakes, offering true and honest accounts of what has happened and seeking remedy.

“I am confident that Chief Constable Stephen Watson will ensure that the Code of Ethics truly drives standards and behaviours for everyone in Greater Manchester Police day in, day out.”

The new Code of Ethics has removed jargon and is clearer and more accessible to the public.

Other changes to the code include: 

• Clarity on what should happen when behaviour does not meet the public’s expectations
• Outlining the expectations of candour for all officers and police staff
• The inclusion of the Code of Practice.

The code out for consultation includes months of work involving a committee of volunteers from across policing and the wider criminal justice system, serving police officers and staff, academics, representatives from partner organisations and some members of the public.

The consultation will remain open until Friday 28 April 2023.

You can read more about the consultation on the College of Policing website.