Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on maintaining political neutrality whilst on duty.

All police officers are required by law to act with impartiality in discharging their duties, under the Police Regulations 2003. This is underlined in the oath of attestation that all police officers personally take on appointment and the Policing Protocol is clear that each Chief Constable is accountable for leading their force in a way that is consistent with that duty of impartiality.

The College of Policing sets standards and provides guidance for policing, including an updated Code of Ethics published in 2024 and a complementary statutory Code of Practice for Ethical Policing.