BCH Police Pension Board Terms of Reference - Annex E

BCH Police Pension Board - Code of Conduct 

Two principles will be applied for Board members to comply with.  The first of which applies to all board members, the Nolan Principles. The second applies to those board members currently employed by the Police Service, the Code of Ethics. 

The Nolan Principles: The seven principles of public life (1995)

The seven principles of public life apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes people who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in:

• the civil service
• local government
• the police
• the courts and probation services
• non-departmental public bodies
• health, education, social and care services

The principles also apply to all those in other sectors that deliver public services.

They were first set out by Lord Nolan in 1995 and they are included in the Ministerial code.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

The seven principles of public life can be viewed on the Gov.uk website

Code of Ethics (College of Policing)

The Code of Ethics is the ​​written guide to the nine principles that every member of the policing profession of England and Wales is expected to uphold, and the standards of behaviour they are expected to meet.

The Code o​​f Ethics is intended to be used on a day-to-day basis to guide behaviour and decision-making.

The principles set out in the Code of Ethics originate from the ‘Principles of Public Life’ published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1995, as these continue to reflect public expectations. The Code includes the principles of ‘fairness’ and ‘respect’ as research has shown these to be crucial to maintaining and enhancing public confidence in policing.

Policing Principles:

1. Accountability

You are answerable for your decisions, actions and omissions.

2. Fairness

You treat people fairly.

3. Honesty

You are truthful and trustworthy.

4. Integrity

You always do the right thing.

5. Leadership

You lead by good example.

6. Objectivity

You make choices on evidence and your best professional judgement.

7. Openness

You are open and transparent in your actions and decisions.

8. Respect

You treat everyone with respect.

9. Selflessness

You act in the public interest.

The Code of Ethics can be viewed on the College of Policing website