Police commissioners to be required to swear oath of impartiality

The new breed of elected Police and Crime Commissioners will be required to swear an oath of impartiality, the Home Office has announced.

The oath requires PCC to serve all the people in their police force area “without fear or favour”.

The Home Office claimed that the oath would “provide a platform for PCCs to set out publicly their commitment to tackling their new role with integrity”.

It also claimed that the oath would “echo the commitment police officers make to serve every member of the public impartially, while at the same time recognising the importance of the operational independence of the police service”.

The elections for the 41 police force areas in England and Wales will take place on 15 November.

Nick Herbert, Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, said: “Police and crime commissioners will be important public servants and it is right that they make a formal public commitment to the communities they will serve.

“Although police and crime commissioners may stand for a political party, the public will expect them to represent all the people in their area impartially, without fear or favour.”

The minister added: “The swearing of an oath will be an important symbol of this impartiality, emphasising both the significance of this new role in local communities and that commissioners are there to serve the people, not a political party or any one section of their electorate.

“An oath will also underline the particular importance of even-handedness in an office which holds to account the local chief constable and police force who themselves are bound to serve impartially.”

The text of the oath is as follows:

[Full Name of Place] do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will serve all the people of [Police Force Area] in the office of Police and Crime Commissioner without fear or favour.

I will act with integrity and diligence in my role and, to the best of my ability, will execute the duties of my office to ensure that the police are able to cut crime and protect the public.

I will give a voice to the public, especially victims of crime and work with other services to ensure the safety of the community and effective criminal justice.

I will take all steps within my power to ensure transparency of my decisions, so that I may be properly held to account by the public.

I will not seek to influence or prevent any lawful and reasonable investigation or arrest, nor encourage any police action save that which is lawful and justified within the bounds of this office.