Code of Conduct for the Police
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edX
 May 07 2023
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    A policeman or policewoman can never exert force on anyone to effect an arrest if such force can potentially lead to the person being grievously harmed or killed. To do so is tantamount to implying that the act of resisting arrest is punishable with grievous bodily harm or death. 


    If an arrest cannot be effected in a way that protects the safety of the person being arrested, and there is no other non-grievously harmful or fatal way to arrest the person, then the person must be let go.


    The only time a person can be arrested with force that can possibly lead to grievous bodily harm or death is if it can be confirmed that allowing the person to go will most likely lead to other people being killed by that person. Then, such an act can be deemed to be in the interests of the lives of the people. In a case, for instance, of attempting to arrest a person for non-murderous crimes, and a car chase results, and the person speeds, and which can lead to accidents and death, then the person must be let go. This is because the danger the person poses the public is directly due to police pursuit, and not because of the nature or related criminal tendencies of the person being pursued.


    If members of the public, whom the police serve, deem that the police act of restraining a person can be proven to very likely lead to the grievous bodily harm or death, and the person being restrained is of no immediate threat to the public, members of the public must intervene and the police must withdraw. (the case of George Floyd is a quintessential case in point.) 


    This intervening act of the public reinforces the Prime Directive of the police in their duty to serve and protect the public. Failing which, the police can be immediately be relieved of their duty by the people and return to their stations, or be guilty of contravening the social contract of serving and protecting the people and be perceived as criminals using their positions to kill members of the public.


    To not abide by these rules must be deemed to be nothing short of premeditated murder, because a policeman or policewoman can easily use the act of arresting a person to intentionally kill the person. Caution must be exercised in respect of the Prime Directive of serving and protecting the people.


    edX

    george floyd police law justice ethics
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