Jo Coles – Ethical Declaration and Oath of Impartiality
Ethical Declaration and Oath of Impartiality
By the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime
To Serve All the People of York and North Yorkshire
In common with the conventions adopted by those serving across England & Wales in the roles of Police and Crime Commissioner and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, I make this ethical declaration.
I will serve all the people of North Yorkshire and the City of York in the Policing, Fire and Crime duties delegated to me by the Mayor and in accordance with the law.
I will act with integrity and diligence in my role and, to the best of my ability, will perform my duties to ensure that North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service do all they can to protect the public and keep them safe.
I will give a voice to the public, especially victims of crime, and work in partnership across the broadest possible range of sectors to ensure the safety of our communities and effective criminal justice.
I will not interfere with the operational independence of police officers, nor seek to influence or prevent any lawful and reasonable intervention, rescue, investigation or arrest, nor encourage any action save that which is lawful and justified within the bounds of my role.
I will abide by the seven standards that make up the ethical framework of public office, and I will take all steps within my power to ensure transparency of my decisions and all areas of my work, so that I may be properly held to account as part of the Mayor’s team, by the public.
The ethical standards expected of those who hold public office are summed up in seven principles, known as the ‘Nolan principles’, to which I commit. They are as follows:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act only in the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligations to any individuals or organisations that might want to influence how they perform their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should decide on merit only.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must cooperate with all appropriate scrutiny.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should explain all decisions and withhold information only where it is clearly in the wider public interest.
Honesty
Holders of public office must declare any private interests relating to their public duties and resolve any conflicts in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should demonstrate these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
I also declare to the public of York and North Yorkshire, my commitment to the Code of Ethics for police personnel and the Core Code of Ethics for fire personnel. I will undertake my role with due regard for those frameworks and by doing so, will set out to exemplify the standards of professional behaviour expected of those held to account by me in the performance of my role.
Dated this 9th day of July 2024
Jo-Anna Catherine Coles
Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime
Countersigned by
David Skaith
Mayor of York & North Yorkshire
Witnessed by
Simon Dennis
Corporate Director – & – Deputy Monitoring Officer for Mayoral Policing, Fire and Crime Functions
