How to fill human rights law and standards with life in day-to-day policing

What is it about?

Human rights law and standards are not just theory and the knowledge thereof will on its own not lead to a better respect of human rights. They require to be put in practice in daily police work. Domestic laws as well as police instructions and policies must tell police officials how they are expected to carry out their work, i.e. when, why and how to arrest, to search or to use force etc. Training must be concrete and practical in order to ensure police officials have the skills to do a good and human rights compliant job. Supervision, control and - eventually - corrective action through coaching, mentoring, re-training, as well as disciplinary or even criminal sanctions - are essential to make that the human rights message conveyed in law, instructions and training is taken serious.

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Why is it important?

Too often, human rights law and standards are considered as something theoretical that has no direct impact on day-to-day police work. As a result, they only form part of general public statements or specific theoretical courses that are separate from the rest of the training content. Police have huge powers and the way they use them must fully respect and protect the human rights of all persons. This is not an easy job and they should be provided with all available guidance, instructions, means and training to help them in that regard. It is time to shake off the dust from human rights law and to fill it with life also in day-to-day policing.