Our Values

Wiltshire Police developed its own set of values and behaviours in 2012, which were a vital driver of our organisational culture. In April 2018 the College of Policing, as part of a wider piece of work, brought a new values framework into policing across the whole country. This set out nationally recognised behaviours and values, to provide a consistent foundation for a range of local and national processes.

This framework ensures that there are clear expectations of everyone working in policing which in turn will lead to standards being raised for the benefit and safety of the public.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard explains:

Values are at the heart of everything we do in the police service, they have to be lived and role modelled every single day to be truly meaningful.

The values reflect the principles that underpin the national Code of Ethics for policing, and our officers, staff and volunteers know how important it is that we uphold the Code and live by the values to truly earn and maintain the trust of our communities.

Impartiality

This value links to the principles of fairness and objectivity from the Code of Ethics.

• Make impartial and objective decisions based upon all available information and/or evidence.
• Value diversity - respect difference without prejudice.
• Listen and engage with an open mind in order to arrive at a fair and balanced outcome.
• Recognise we are all individuals - treat people fairly and according to their individual needs, tailoring services appropriately.
• See other perspectives and think about the potential impact of your words, behaviour and actions.
• Learn how to recognise unconscious bias in yourself and others.

Integrity

This value links to the principle of integrity from the Code of Ethics.

• Be truthful to yourself and to others, have a good awareness of your own moral and ethical principles.
• Declare any potential conflict-of-interest swiftly.
• Set an example, and lead by example.
• Take personal responsibility for your own practice and decisions.
• Have the courage to have difficult and/or challenging conversations.
• Be realistic about what you can do, and deliver on the things you commit to doing.

Public service

This value links to the principles of respect and selflessness from the Code of Ethics.

• Develop effective relationships, working with our partner-agencies, stakeholders and communities.
• Manage expectations - explain what we are doing and why we are doing it.
• Where appropriate signpost the public to the partners/agencies who can help them.
• Always aim to deliver the very best for our communities and our workforce.
• Listen and engage with our staff and the public.
• Understand and embrace the shared purpose we all work towards.

Transparency

This value links to the principles of honesty and openness from the Code of Ethics.

• Be respectfully open and honest in everything you do.
• Acknowledge where we get things wrong, learn lessons, and say what we are going to do about it.
• Communicate well using plain language.
• Manage information and processes consistently and responsibly and share information when and where you can.
• Be polite and informed, with no hidden agenda.
• Foster good two-way engagement with the public; share success and positive stories.

Find out more about competency and force values at the College of Policing website.