Police and Human Rights – Manual for Police Training
How can respecting human rights help the police?
Respect for human rights by law enforcement agencies
actually enhances the effectiveness of those agencies. Where
human rights are systematically respected, police officers
have developed professionalism in their approaches to solving
and preventing crime and maintaining public order. In this
sense, respect for human rights by police is, in addition to
being a moral, legal and ethical imperative, also a practical
requirement for law enforcement. When the police are seen to
respect, uphold and defend human rights:
• Public confidence is built and community cooperation fostered.
• Legal prosecutions are successful in court.
• Police are seen as part of the community, performing a
valuable social function.
• The fair administration of justice is served, and,
consequently, confidence in the system.
• An example is set for respect for the law by others in the
society.
• Police are able to be closer to the community, and, therefore,
in a position to prevent and solve crimes through proactive
policing.
• Support is elicited from the media, from the international
community, and from higher authorities.
• A contribution is made to the peaceful resolution of conflicts
and complaints.
An effective police service is one that serves as the first line of
defense in the protection of human rights. Its members carry
out their work in a way, which does not rely upon fear and
raw power but, on the contrary, is based on regard for the law,
honor, and professionalism.
What role does training play in protecting human rights?
The effective training of police in human rights is an essential
element in the global efforts to promote and protect human
rights in every country. In order to protect human rights, the
police must first know and understand them. Furthermore,
police officers must be familiar with the various international
guidelines and bodies of principles – such as the Code of
Conduct for law enforcement officials and the principles on
the use of force and firearms – and be able to use them as
tools in their everyday work. They must understand the fact
that international human rights standards concerning their
work were developed to provide invaluable guidance for the
performance of their crucial functions in a democratic society.
However, police officers in the line of duty should know not
only what the rules are, but also how to do their job effectively
within the confines of those rules.
Doesn’t concern for human rights hinder effective police work?
Most people have heard the argument that respect for human
rights is somehow opposed to effective law enforcement. And
effective law enforcement means to capture the criminal. And
to secure his conviction, it is necessary to “bend the rules”
a little. A tendency to use overwhelming force in controlling
demonstrations, physical pressure to extract information from
detainees, or excessive force to secure an arrest can be observed
now and then. In this way of thinking, law enforcement is a war
against crime, and human rights are merely obstacles thrown
in the path of the police by lawyers and NGOs.
In fact, violations of human rights ––78––––
police only
make the already challenging task of law enforcement
–––
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. When the law enforcer –––
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the lawbreaker, the
result is an assault on human dignity, on the law itself and on
all institutions of public authority.
(G. Kalajdziev, et al. www.humanrights.dk. Adaptado.)
A expressão bend the rules, no trecho – And to secure his
conviction, it is necessary to “bend the rules” a little. –, equivale,
em português, a