Ethics Committee

We have been working in collaboration with Bath Spa University and Imperial College NHS Trust to develop and implement an Ethics Committee.

What does the committee do?

The role of the Ethics Committee is to provide support to police officers and staff in considering difficult ethical dilemmas when making decisions. The Committee will provide considerations relating to the issue to assist the decision-making process. The ethical issues will help inform policy and training within the Constabulary.

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

Who is in the committee?

The Chair of the Ethics Committee is Professor Vassilios Papalois, who is a surgeon and Chair of the Imperial College NHS Trust and has considerable experience of ethics committees. He will be assisted by two Vice-Chairs; Professor Allyson MacVean from Bath Spa University and a serving police officer.

Committee members include 45 trained volunteers from across the force, the Deputy Chief Constable, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and lay members who have specific knowledge and skills that will contribute to the processes of the Committee.