Declaration on the Police, Resolution 690

• Author: George Kurian
• Pages: 1151-1153

Contenidos

• RESOLUTION 690 (1979) [1].
• on the Declaration on the Police.
• APPENDIX.
• Declaration on the Police.
• A. Ethics [2]
• B. Status
• C. War and other emergency situations—occupation by a foreign power [3]

Page 1151

SOURCE http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Police/5._Reference_Documents/b._Resolution_690_(1979)_on_Decl_police.asp, 1979.

INTRODUCTION The declaration of the police was prepared by the legal affairs committee of the Council of Europe, and it was adopted in May 1979 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (resolution 690). Subsequently, with only the qualified support of the Council's committee of ministers, the resolution/declaration was transmitted to the governments of member states. Accompanying the resolution were the committee of ministers critical "observations," based in part on comments received from various specialist bodies to whom the committee had submitted the declaration. Partly because of the problematic nature of some clauses in the declaration, and the division of policing authority in many of the member states, the declaration has not yet achieved the official acceptance that was originally sought for it.

RESOLUTION 690 (1979) [1]

on the Declaration on the Police

The Assembly,

Considering that the full exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and other national and international instruments, has as a necessary basis the existence of a peaceful society which enjoys the advantages of order and public safety;

Considering that, in this respect, police play a vital role in all the member states, that they are frequently called upon to intervene in conditions which are dangerous for their members, and that their duties are made yet more difficult if the rules of conduct of their members are not sufficiently precisely defined;

Being of the opinion that it is inappropriate for those who have committed violations of human rights whilst members of police forces, or those who have belonged to any police force that has been disbanded on account of inhumane practices, to be employed as policemen;

Being of the opinion that the European system for the protection of human rights would be improved if there were generally accepted rules concerning the professional ethics of the police which take account of the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Considering that it is desirable that police officers have the active moral and physical support of the community they are serving;

Considering that police officers should enjoy status and rights comparable to those of members of the civil service;

Believing that it may be desirable to lay down guidelines for the behaviour of police officers in case of war and other emergency situations, and...