Underlying Principles:
 

Policing should be administered with the lightest touch possible, applied with no fear or favour and interacting consistently with all genders, religions and social and ethnic groups.

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Consistency of enforcement and independence from party political influence are essential.

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Case and suspect related information stored in police files should be easily accessible to any appropriately interested investigating officer.

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Physical confrontations between police and public should be a last resort, but where necessary the police should be appropriately equipped and supported to protect themselves and any bystanders.

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Police priorities should be equally weighted between (i) the prevention of violence and crime, (ii) the maintenance of public order and (iii) the identification and apprehension of suspected perpetrators of crime.

 

Crimes with high social impact should have a higher level of policing priority and enforcement.

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Police officers must obey the laws they enforce and be seen to do so by the public.

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Outcomes of policing should be monitored, and the related strategies and actions assessed for their social value relative to their cost.

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Children and teenagers should be the most protected group in our society, as they have the least control over their circumstances, the least control of their emotions and the least awareness of the impact of their actions.

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Harmful actions committed against or by children and teenagers should be treated differently from similar actions committed against or by adults.

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