Professional Distance

Question 1

Executive summary: Key things to note

Answer 1

• The key things to note in this Policy are that employees are expected to:
  . Be aware of the need to maintain a professional distance from those we deal with in our work
  . Appropriately manage any personal relationship where a conflict of interest or imbalance of power arises, by declaring it to their Supervisor, and
  . Avoid any such relationships that are unethical or inappropriate
• If you are unsure of your relationship, you should speak to your supervisor.

Question 2

Professional distance: What?

Answer 2

• We must all be mindful of whether relationships developed through our Police roles may lead to a conflict of interest or a power imbalance.
• A Police employee is expected to take steps to manage any personal relationship where a conflict of interest or imbalance of power arises, including where necessary, declaring any such relationship, or potential relationship, to Police.
• This policy relates to the formation of consensual personal relationships (sexual or otherwise) and applies to all Police employees.
• A personal relationship may include family members, friends, partners or others where the relationship contact or conduct is personal or intimate as opposed to professional.
• A professional relationship occurs when the relationship has arisen out of the employees work duties. This includes a relationship between two Police employees, a Police employee and a member of the public, a Police employee and an associate (eg a staff member of an external agency), a Police employee and a contractor, and others.

Question 3

Professional distance: Why?

Answer 3

• The nature of Policing means conflicts of interest and power imbalances may occur in our relationships with colleagues, victims, offenders and members of the public.
• As your employer, we are legitimately interested in relationships you develop through your Police role where there is a real or perceived conflict of interest or a power imbalance.
• Such conflicts of interest or power imbalances may compromise our professional boundaries and those relationships may therefore be inappropriate.

Question 4

Professional distance: How?

Answer 4

• We are clear about what type of relationships are not ethical or are inappropriate, and we provide guidance on managing and limiting risks to individuals and to Police when these relationships may occur. We report any relationship we are unsure of to our supervisor.
• We work together to take all reasonably practicable steps to manage any reported relationship so that the relationship may continue, however we accept that in some circumstances it is not possible for the risks to be appropriately managed.
• We respect and maintain the privacy of our people, and do not interfere unduly in their relationship.
• We use the Professional Distance Guidelines to help us inform us regarding our approach to relationships.

Question 5

Professional Distance Guidelines: Managing external relationships

Answer 5

• Professional relationships we develop with members of the public may be unequal due to:
  . Members of the public being required to disclose private, confidential or highly personal information to us, which is not reciprocated
  . The ability and power held by us to make decisions relating to some people, eg we may have the power to arrest, to detain, to further a complaint or issue an infringement, or otherwise affect outcomes for that person
  . A member of the public being vulnerable due to personal circumstances

Question 6

Professional Distance Guidelines: Managing external relationships (others)

Answer 6

• Forming a personal relationship, and in particular a sexual relationship with the following groups of people whilst they interact with you in a professional capacity, creates the greatest risk of a conflict of interest or imbalance of power and are therefore considered to be unethical and must be avoided:
  . Offenders when they have current charges and/or a known criminal history
  . Victims
  . Witnesses and their family members
  . Informants
  . Vulnerable persons where a duty of care exists
  . Any person in custody
  . Complainants

Question 7

Professional Distance Guidelines: Managing external relationships (family)

Answer 7

• You must exercise judgement in any professional dealings with family members, friends or associates.
• There may be exceptional circumstances, such as working in a small community, but generally any professional involvement with people with whom you have a pre-existing personal relationship will need to be immediately reported to your supervisor to discuss and agree any safeguards needed to manage any potential conflict of interest or power imbalance.

Question 8

Professional Distance Guidelines: Managing internal relationships

Answer 8

• Personal relationships between Police employees may be unequal or potentially create conflicts of interest where a Police employee has a decision-making role with respect to another Police employee. This is likely to include any relationship between Police employees where there is a reporting line relationship, or between recruits and instructors.

Question 9

Professional Distance Guidelines: Your responsibilities

Answer 9

• If you intend to enter into, or are in, a personal relationship with a member of the public or another Police employee that may be considered:
  . Unethical or inappropriate
  . Unequal
  . An actual or potential conflict of interest

Or

• If you are uncertain as to whether the relationship could be considered any of these things, you must declare it to your Supervisor as soon as possible. Ideally this will be prior to the commencement of the relationship or the situation giving rise to an actual or potential conflict of interest.
• Where a relationship is declared, the supervisor must then assess whether or not steps can be taken to put in place safeguards to manage any conflict of interest or power imbalance. Guidance on this can be found in the Managing Conflicts of Interest Chapter.