Greater Manchester is to be one of the first areas in the country to have an independent committee to scrutinise ethical standards in policing.
The behaviour, actions and decisions of police officers and staff must always be in support of the public interest. Public trust and confidence in policing as an institution is crucial to build safer communities, and to earn this police need to be open to scrutiny and be transparent.
To help build trust and public confidence, Greater Manchester’s Police (GMP) and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy have set up an ethics committee which will facilitate public scrutiny and encourage public debate in the complex area of police ethics.
They recognise also that professional ethics is far broader than integrity alone. It incorporates the requirement to give an account of one’s judgments, acts and omissions. In simple terms it is not only about doing the right deed but also about doing it for the right reason.
By having an ethics committee, Tony Lloyd and Sir Peter Fahy are making an explicit and public commitment to transparent, ethical policing in Greater Manchester that is subjected to rigorous independent scrutiny.
Committee members are sought whose skills and experiences can enrich the decision making of senior leaders and improve the transparency of GMP for the benefit of the communities of Greater Manchester.
They are looking for people who are not currently serving police officers, officers of the Special Constabulary, serving police staff or staff who work at Tony Lloyd’s office. In addition, committee members need to have a good understanding of the communities of Greater Manchester so must either live or work in the area.
Exceptional individuals are being looked for who can work together and who have significant key skills and attributes, whose focus would be to support Tony Lloyd and Sir Peter Fahy in ensuring that correct procedures and practices are adhered to in the police decision-making process, so that outcomes produced are both legally correct and in the public interest.
Committee members will be paid an allowance and the initial term of office will be two years. Committee members will receive an annual allowance of £1,000 (£1,500 for the chair) and an attendance allowance of £211.50 for a full day or £104.50 for four hours or less.
The committee will meet quarterly, but members may be required to be available outside the times of the formal meetings.
Candidates who are successful at interview will be required to provide references and will be subject to further checks, including criminal vetting.
How to apply
To apply, download and read the application pack, here: www.gmpcc.org.uk/down-to-business/ethics-committee/ and email your CV, with a covering letter outlining clearly why you are suitable for the role, to: [email protected].
For more information, contact Peter Kidd on 0161 604 7711, or email: [email protected]
Deadline: Friday 25 April 2014