Abstract

Public trust and police legitimacy are inextricably linked to the integrity of the workforce. High-profile cases of police misconduct and criminality, coupled with organisational pressures arising from rapid recruitment and workforce inexperience, have intensified scrutiny of ethical culture within UK policing.

Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence of the consequences of police misconduct, including community unrest and erosion of legitimacy, this chapter examines the organisational, cultural and procedural mechanisms required to achieve and sustain workforce integrity. Framed within the PEEL inspection regime of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), it analyses how forces develop ethical leadership, robust vetting, anti-corruption capability, and effective misconduct management.

The chapter identifies the defining characteristics of an “outstanding” force, highlighting innovation, proactive integrity frameworks, and a demonstrable commitment to organisational ethics as central to maintaining public confidence and operational legitimacy.