South Wales Police

Our Vision

To be the best at understanding and responding to our communities.

Our Values

To be proud, professional and positive in everything we do.

Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics is the written guide to the principles that every member of the policing profession of England and Wales is expected to uphold and the standards of behaviour they are expected to meet.

It is the first time these principles and standards of behaviour have been set out in a single document, and is intended to be used on a day-to-day basis to guide behaviour and decision-making. The Code of Ethics has been produced by the College of Policing in its role as the professional body for policing. It sets and defines the exemplary standards of behaviour for everyone who works in policing.

Joint Independent Ethics Committee

Our Joint Independent Ethics Committee will provide advice, support and assistance concerning ethical challenges arising from operational, administrative or organisational matters facing South Wales Police.

The Committee will not deal with issues of misconduct or misbehaviour; these will continue to be dealt with by our Professional Standards Department. The ethics committee will not consider Complaints or Freedom of Information requests.

The Committee comprises of the following minimum membership:

• • Chair (independent member)
  • Vice Chair (independent member)
  • A minimum of three further independent members
  • A representative of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office
  • Chief Officer
  • Chief Superintendent

The Chair is Mike McNamee BA, MA, MA, PhD, Professor of Applied Ethics, and Director of the Research Institute of Ethics and Law, at Swansea University. He has published and taught ethics widely across fields as diverse as education, engineering, healthcare and medicine, research, and sports.

He is assisted by Mr Mike Lewis who was appointed as Vice Chair in 2017. He served as an Independent Member of South Wales Police Authority for almost ten years and is a Senior Assessor with the College of Policing. Mike is an Independent Member of Hywel Dda University Health Board, a Trustee of two charities and is also an Independent Member of the City & County of Swansea Standards Committee.

The Joint Independent Ethics Committee Terms of Business sets out the scope of the Committee’s purpose and function.

The latest minutes from the Independent Ethics Committee:

September 2018

December 2018 

March 2019

July 2019

October 2019

December 2019

June 2020