Ethics and integrity

The WA Police Force developed these programs and processes to assist with managing and developing police officers and employees:

WA Police Force Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct (the Code) (PDF, 2MB) uses the WA Police Force values to guide and inform our employees regarding expected behaviour and actions, to help us achieve the WA Police Force Mission and Vision.

The Code defines how WA Police Force employees should act on a day-to-day basis. The framework underpins our daily operations, expands on our core values and expresses our agency culture. 

The Code is a key component in maintaining and building trust between the WA Police Force and the WA Community and applies to all employees of the WA Police Force.

Additionally, the Code assists all our business areas with identifying and treating corruption risks in their areas.

The Code applies to persons employed under the Police Act 1892, persons employed by the Commissioner of Police under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and other employees such as volunteers, suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors.

The Code also complements the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics which requires the development of, and compliance with, an agency specific code of conduct.

The Code clearly spells out what is expected of all personnel of the WA Police Force and outlines the parameters that will enable each of us to exercise sound decision making and be exemplary in our conduct.

The Blueline

The Blueline is a confidential and dedicated telephone line for WA Police Force personnel who are concerned about the unethical conduct of any WA Police Force employee.

Callers will be electronically offered the choice of direct communications or, if they desire, anonymous reporting. Information provided will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.

Supported Internal Witness Program

The Supported Internal Witness Program is available to WA Police Force personnel who report unethical conduct whether voluntary or under obligation in the course of an internal investigation.

The program is designed to offer support and practical assistance to counter the potential negative aspects of police culture and encourage all personnel to play their part in establishing the highest possible standards of ethical and professional conduct within the WA Police Force.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act (the Act) enables people to make disclosures about wrongdoing within the state public sector, local government and public universities without fear of reprisal.

The Act aims to ensure openness and accountability in government by encouraging people to make disclosures and protecting them when they do.

The WA Police Force encourages all managers and supervisors to adopt a Managerial Intervention Model (MIM) to the resolution of behaviour, conduct and/or work performance matters/issues identified as a result of a complaint(s) against police.

The MIM is a remedial/developmental approach which recognises that officers will make honest mistakes and which provides a "fair go" to change behaviour, conduct and/or performance leading to improvement in both organisational and individual performance.

Misconduct

The WA Police Force has a number of processes that will occur for identified or reported matters, which will seek to determine the circumstances and actions that led to the matter.
Misconduct is defined in the Corruption Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 and can range from minor to serious in definition.

All matters of misconduct or unprofessional behaviour are managed in accordance with the WA Police Integrity Framework, WA Police Force policy, procedure and legislation.

The WA Police Integrity Framework is a model for the appropriate supervision and management of employees, designed to reduce the risk of misconduct and unethical behaviour.  

The framework provides guidance to managers, supervisors, witnesses and external stakeholders, describing the mechanisms for reporting, investigating and arriving at outcomes when misconduct by employee is alleged.

The framework promotes management interventions to align behaviours with the WA Police Force Values, WA Police Force Code of Conduct, policy and relevant legislation.

Where management interventions are inadequate to address either real or perceived risk to the reputation of the WA Police Force, the framework includes a disciplinary and dismissal process.

The Fraud and Corruption Control Plan and Policy 2022-2025 (PDF, 634KB) outlines the Western Australia Police Force’s pledge for zero tolerance of fraud, corruption and misconduct and its commitment to the highest standards of transparency, probity and accountability.

All employees have a duty to report misconduct and unethical behaviour, and these reports will be investigated and resolved.

The nature of police officers' work is such that they must have special authority that should not be abused. These include the right to:

• Undertake their lawful duties without hindrance, resistance or abuse.
• Require any occupant of a motor vehicle to undergo preliminary breath testing where the driver is unknown.
• Search for and seize property under lawful authority.
• Arrest a person with or without a warrant.
• Lawfully use reasonable force to restrain, effect an arrest or execute a warrant.
• Lawfully require of a person his or her name and address and, where it is reasonably believed that an offence has been or is about to be committed, to stop, search and detain any person or vehicle.

Community rights

When dealing with the Western Australia Police Force, members of the community have a right to:

• Be treated honestly and openly.
• Be treated fairly and with respect.
• Request that police officers identify themselves.
• Communicate or attempt to communicate with a friend, relative or legal practitioner if they are detained in custody.
• Be cautioned prior to being formally questioned as an offender.
• Be fully informed of all charges preferred.
• Only be detained for as long as is lawfully necessary.
• Have their safety and welfare needs met where detained, including the right to necessary medical attention.
• Have their concerns acknowledged and responded to in a professional manner.

Community obligations

The WA Police Force relies upon the cooperation of all members of the community to make Western Australia a safe and secure place. 

To play their part, citizens have a moral obligation to:

• Comply with the law.
• Assist and support their police and report information relating to any offence.
• Treat members of the WA Police Force with respect and in a civil manner comply with any reasonable directions given by a police officer in the performance of his or her duty.

Credibility

Our credibility is dependent upon our employees acting with integrity, in a professional and ethical manner.

Each employee is individually responsible for aligning their actions and behaviour with the WA Police Force Code of Conduct, policies and legislation.

A vital part in maintaining a high standard of service to the community relies upon an understanding of the rights and obligations of individuals in the community and of members of the WA Police Force.

Occasionally misunderstandings occur about the roles and powers of police officers. These misunderstandings can leave individuals, who have very little contact with the police, feeling dissatisfied with the level of service or an officer's conduct. 

This Charter of Rights has been produced to provide a better understanding of the rights and obligations associated with police activities.

You can help us identify the main causes of dissatisfaction with our standard of service, or tell us about members who excel in their duties, by providing a commendation or complaint.