Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.11.05
Which dilemmas arise in police work when the goals and principles of the European Code of Police Ethics collide?
Upholding the law versus being bound by the same law; upholding the law versus respecting fundamental rights; and detecting crime versus keeping police law clear and public.
| Principle A | collides with | Principle B | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uphold respect for the law | Police are bound by the same laws as citizens | The law does not always favour the police; officers can be prosecuted for actions taken on duty. | |
| Uphold respect for the law | Respect everyone's fundamental rights | Restricting freedom of religion or expression, banning people from places (Wegweisung, Aussperrung), arrests. | |
| Detect crime | Police law must be accessible and clear to citizens | Undercover investigations only work if the target does not know about them. |
Each is a real dilemma because both sides are legitimate goals of the same institution. The police cannot fully serve one without giving up part of the other.
Go deeper:
Wikipedia: Proportionality (law) — the principle used to weigh public order against individual rights.