Canary Islands Police Ethical Conduct Guidelines

Introduction

The Canary Islands government has officially approved a set of new ethical conduct guidelines for the Autonomous Police Corps, known as the Policía Canaria. These guidelines aim to reinforce the police force's commitment to integrity, transparency, and human rights, aligning their operations with international standards and democratic principles.

This move underscores a broader effort to build public trust by ensuring police actions are rooted in respect for citizens' rights and legal norms.

Core Values and Principles

The guidelines outline the core values that police officers must uphold, including:

• responsibility
• impartiality
• respect
• accountability

They emphasize that police work should always prioritize the protection of fundamental rights, fair treatment, and avoiding abuses of power.

Officers are called to act with:

• professionalism
• empathy toward vulnerable groups
• in close cooperation with other security forces and the community.

Practical Principles

The document details practical principles such as:

• the obligation to act within the law
• safeguard data privacy
• avoid discrimination
• use force only when strictly necessary.

Ethical Commitments (Decalogue)

It introduces a Decalogue of ethical commitments, affirming police officers’ duty to:

• respect human rights
• serve with dignity
• reject corruption or misconduct.

Goals and Impact

This initiative aims to foster a police culture centered on ethical responsibility, which is vital for maintaining:

• social harmony
• confidence in public safety institutions

in the dynamic and diverse society of the Canary Islands.