Police Professional Standards

The role of a Professional Standards department is to thoroughly and impartially investigate all complaints made against police staff by members of the public.

The police are gate-keepers to the criminal justice system in most developing countries, and the arm of the state that local people most frequently come into contact with. Unprofessional and unaccountable police and security forces can create mistrust within communities, and a corrupt and inefficient judicial system can deny people access to justice.

Edinburgh International believes that the focus of any security sector reform programme for the police is to help turn them from a force that is feared into a service that is respected. The aim is to create a professional and accountable police service that works with local communities to help prevent crime and increase public safety.

Edinburgh International’s cadre of highly respected professionals from the law enforcement community offer a blend of real world expertise and advice when developing professional standards with police services in developing countries or in countries emerging from conflict.

What is a Code of Professional Standards

A Code of Professional Standards reflects the expectations that the police service and the public have of how police officers should behave. It is not intended to describe every situation but rather to set a framework which everyone can easily understand. It should enable everybody to know what type of conduct by a police officer is right and what is wrong.