All cops to personally endorse ten-point code of conduct

A Code of Conduct, released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police, for all police personnel, contains a ten-point pledge that each of them needs to personally endorse and adhere to with immediate effect.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruwan Gunasekera said that copies of the Code of Conduct prepared by the National Police Commission have been dispatched to respective police divisions to be distributed among all serving personnel.

The pledge requires police personnel to uphold the human rights of every citizen, to act lawfully at all times and abstain from any action, while on or off duty, in a manner that would bring disrepute to the Police force.

A pocket-sized version of the Code of Conduct will be given to all police personnel to carry with them while on duty.

The Code of Conduct also deals with bribery and corruption and the abuse of power.

Police personnel are reminded that they are entitled to a salary for their service like all other citizens and that their salaries are paid using taxes collected from the public and therefore their primary duty is to serve the public.

There is also a section on how to deal with suspects where it is reiterated that Police personnel have no judicial powers and that they cannot impose any punishment on suspects and that no physical force should be used when questioning persons taken into custody,

All police personnel are to respect the code of conduct and endorse the code by signing it. A copy of the signed pledge will be included in the service file of all police personnel while a copy would be given to them.