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Uncovering the ‘Ethical Profile’ of Police Managers and the ‘Moral Ethos’ of Police Organisations: A Preliminary Analysis

1998; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 1; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/146135579900100206

1478-1603

Robert Adlam,

Ethics in Business and Education

As part of a wider Educational Action Research Project begun in the winter of 1992, following the publication of the police service statement of ethical principles and the attendant commentary on those principles, the research reported here focuses upon data patterns emerging from the development of two instruments, the ‘Bramshill ethics’ questionnaire and the ‘moral ethos’ questionnaire. These two instruments were specifically designed to provide police leaders and managers attending development courses at Bramshill with information concerning the ‘moral world’ of fellow practitioners. The emerging data patterns point to very real moral complexity and diversity among the middle managers of the police service. In addition, while some features of the moral ethos of police organisations are highly desirable from both a moral and a professional point of view, other aspects cast doubts upon the ability of police organisations to attain the status of quality organisations.