COLLEGE ETHICS COMMITTEE
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Purpose
1. This paper presents Terms of Reference for the establishment and maintenance
of a College Ethics Committee in the College of Policing1.
Aim
2. The overall aim of the College Ethics Committee (hereafter “CEC”) is to increase
and support ethical consideration and decision-making within the College of
Policing. This committee will review the processes and procedures that precede
decision-making but not the decision itself. It will be a supportive mechanism
that encourages embodiment of the Code of Ethics and the National Decision
Model.
3. This will be achieved by the CEC helping to create a culture where people
working in the College of Policing are encouraged to do ‘the right thing in the
right way’.
Structure
4. The CEC will start as a single unified body with an internal focus only,
concerning itself with operational matters relating to the College. The
Independent Advisory Group (IAG) will continue to act as the primary external
advisory body to the College Board and Chief Executive, concentrating on
strategic matters relating to the College.
Role
5. The CEC will be an advisory and consultative body only, it cannot direct that
something will be done instead it will make recommendations and offer opinions.
Membership
6. The membership of the CEC will allow for a broad range of experience and
expertise, and will comprise up to 12 members, most of whom will be drawn
from within the College. Expressions of interest will be sought from those who
wish to participate and some roles by their very nature prescribe membership.
Meetings
7. The CEC will meet every three months and follow an agreed, published
timetable.
Agenda
8. The agenda will comprise an ‘Open’ and ‘Closed’ agenda / minutes
 standard items (eg, summary data relating to College-held information with
an ethical dimension – business interests, gifts & hospitality, sick leave, and
so on)
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These TOR are based on those developed for the Cleveland Ethics Board and since adopted for the 8+1 Ethics
Committee ‘proof of concept’ exercise being led by Cleveland Police (8 forces plus the College of Policing).
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
© College of Policing Limited (2013)
College of Policing


specific submissions seeking the views of the committee
ad hoc matters raised by members and approved by the Chair for inclusion.
9. Agenda items will be expected to be:
(a) structured according to the following headings
 People
 Culture
 Policy & Procedure
 Decision-making advice / review
 Leadership
 Conduct2
 Communications
(b) consistent with the objectives and deliverables as agreed by CEC members.
See Appendix One for a draft programme. This will be considered and
finalised over the course of the first few CEC meetings.
Governance
10.The position of Chair of the CEC will be filled by the Chief Operating Officer. The
Chair will be accountable to the College Board. The Chair will involve other
committee members from time to time by inviting them to take the chair for
particular agenda items.
11.Other committees, boards, groups and meeting whose functions include ethical
scrutiny should offer brief summary feedback to the CEC meetings and may
feature as a standard or specific agenda item at their request or at the request
of the CEC.
Principles
12.The CEC will operate according to the nine principles in the Code of Ethics:
Leadership, Objectivity, Fairness, Respect, Selflessness, Openess, Honesty,
Integrity and Accountability.
Expenses
13.CEC members who work within the College of Policing will attend committee
business as part of their normal duties and can claim any normal expenses
incurred whilst attending meetings. Any external representative may seek
reimbursement of travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses (eg,
receipted meals).
Observers
14.Because of the potentially sensitive nature of submissions to the CEC, meetings
will not be public. Minutes, however, will be published on the College intranet.
15.The Chair may allow non-members to observe and participate in CEC meetings
in certain circumstances.
Secretariat
16.The Chair will ensure administrative support is provided for the CEC by the
Ethics, Integrity and Public Interest Unit.
These 6 headings are being used by all participants in the Cleveland 8+1 EC proof-ofconcept trial.
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© College of Policing Limited (2014)
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College of Policing
© College of Policing Limited (2014)
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College of Policing
APPENDIX ONE
Draft CEC objectives and deliverables
Category
1. People
Objectives
 Monitor a range of measurements
relating to ethical behaviour
 Consider the impact on the
College and policing generally of
integrity-related misconduct cases
and individual grievance cases
that involve College personnel.
2. Culture


Promote the CEC
Promote the Code of Ethics
Promote ethical decision making
Support ethical accountability
Ensure organisational learning
occurs through awareness of
integrity-related situations and
statements by others in the UK
and internationally
Consideration and approval of
draft forms/ communications
for use by the CEC:
 Submissions to the CEC
 CEC responses
 Intranet/POLKA
Summary data :
 Awareness and use of:
 the Code of Ethics
 the NDM
 confidential reporting
mechanisms
 Headline feedback from internal
meetings (Associates Panel and
Information Governance
Committee etc )
 Support and further develop the
inclusion of ethics in policies and
procedures.
 Provide feedback on draft
policies
 Consider new integrity-related
issues and offer advice

 Respond to specific submissions
seeking the views of the CEC.
 Support College decision-makers
and leaders on ethical issues
Consideration and opinion on:
 draft guidance on ethics
and standards of behaviour
 integration of the Code of
Ethics into College systems
and processes
 new or revised policies and
procedures for College
business areas


3. Policy and
Procedure
4. Decision
Making
Review /
Advice
5. Leadership
Deliverables
Summary data relating to:
 Business Interests
 Gifts and Hospitality
 Sick leave
 Reward
 Procurement
 Recruitment, promotion and
Induction
Summary data relating to:
 Internal and external
complaints
 Whistle-blowing
 Staff grievances
 Monitor for ethical issues relating
to police leadership
 Monitor the level of ethics and
© College of Policing Limited (2014)
Consideration and
recommendations on issues
referred to – or instigated
by – the CEC
Consideration and opinion on
communications within the
College about ethics and
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College of Policing
6. Conduct
integrity related communications
within the College by Chief
Officers and senior managers
 Provide guidance to individual
business area leads on ethical
practice and issues
integrity:
 Generally
 By the Chief Executive
team
 By College leaders
 Help ensure that support
mechanisms for reporting
improper behaviour are fit for
purpose
 Oversee a ‘Lessons Learned’
function for the College
(identifying good and poor
decision making)
 Approve suitable conduct-related
cases for wider sharing
Consideration and opinion on:
 College support
mechanisms for
reporting improper
behaviour
 a ‘Lessons Learned’
function within the
College
 proposed summaries of
conduct-related cases
for wider sharing
© College of Policing Limited (2014)
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