Policing, Ethics and Human Rights

Ethical and human rights issues have assumed an increasingly high profile in the wake of miscarriages of justice, racism (Lawrence Inquiry), incompetence and corruption - in both Britain and overseas. At the same time the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998 in England and Wales will have a major impact on policing, challenging many of the assumptions about how policing is carried out. This book aims to provide an accessible introduction to the key issues surrounding ethics in policing, linking this to recent developments and new human rights legislation. It sets out a powerful case for a modern 'ethical policing' approach. Policing, Ethics and Human Rights argues that securing and protecting human rights should be a major, if not the major, rationale for public policing.

Peter Neyroud is Deputy Chief Constable, West Mercia Constabulary, Vice-chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' human rights committee, and a Council Member of 'Justice'.

Alan Beckley is Head of Management Development Training in West Mercia Constabulary, has written extensively on policing issues, and is Editor of the journal Police Research and Management.