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UK Police Sift (SJT) study materials
UK Police Sift (SJT) study resources

UK Police Sift (SJT) practice questions

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Question 1Professional standards and ethical judgement

Which statement best describes the purpose of the Code of Ethics for policing in England and Wales?

  1. It sets out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone in policing Correct answer.
  2. It lists the criminal offences that only police officers can commit
  3. It sets the pay and conditions framework for police officers
  4. It provides tactical guidance for managing operational incidents

Explanation

The Code of Ethics, issued by the College of Policing, sets out the standards of professional behaviour expected of everyone who works in policing and provides a framework for ethical decisions. It is not a criminal statute, a tactics manual or a pay framework.

Question 2Professional standards and ethical judgement

How many standards of professional behaviour are set out in the Code of Ethics for policing in England and Wales?

  1. 8
  2. 12
  3. 10 Correct answer.
  4. 14

Explanation

The Code of Ethics contains ten standards of professional behaviour, including honesty and integrity, equality and diversity, use of force, confidentiality, and challenging and reporting improper conduct. Each standard is supported by practical guidance on expected behaviour.

Question 3Professional standards and ethical judgement

While on patrol, a member of the public offers an officer a £50 shopping voucher as thanks for earlier help. What is the most appropriate course of action?

  1. Accept it and mention it to a supervisor only if asked
  2. Decline politely and record the offer in line with force policy Correct answer.
  3. Accept it but share it with the rest of the team to avoid favouritism
  4. Accept it, because refusing would appear ungrateful to the community

Explanation

Officers must not accept gifts or hospitality that could influence them, or that a reasonable person might see as doing so. The offer should be declined courteously and declared in line with force policy so the decision is transparent and auditable.

Question 4Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer wants to post on their personal social media account about an arrest they made that day. What should they do?

  1. Post it, as the arrest has already been reported in the local press
  2. Not post it, because police information must not be disclosed in this way Correct answer.
  3. Post it with a disclaimer that the views expressed are their own
  4. Post it, provided faces are pixelated and names are removed

Explanation

Police information is confidential and may only be used or disclosed for a legitimate policing purpose. Personal social media accounts are not an authorised channel, and anonymising details does not make the disclosure acceptable.

Question 5Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer sees a colleague use force on a detained person that appears excessive. According to the Code of Ethics, what is the officer's duty?

  1. Wait until the end of the shift and mention it informally
  2. Say nothing unless the detained person makes a complaint
  3. Raise it privately with the colleague and leave it at that
  4. Challenge the behaviour and report it through the appropriate channel Correct answer.

Explanation

The standard on challenging and reporting improper conduct makes it a professional duty to challenge behaviour that falls below expectations and to report it where necessary. This applies to colleagues of any rank and does not depend on a complaint being made.

Question 6Professional standards and ethical judgement

During a briefing, an officer makes a derogatory joke about a particular religious group and several colleagues laugh. What is the most appropriate response from an officer present?

  1. Note the remark in their pocket notebook and take no further action
  2. Laugh along so as not to isolate the colleague
  3. Challenge the remark at the time and report it to a supervisor Correct answer.
  4. Report it anonymously later without saying anything at the time

Explanation

Officers are expected to challenge discriminatory behaviour and to report it, because failing to do so condones it. The equality and diversity standard applies to conduct towards colleagues as well as towards the public.

Question 7Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer needs to restrain a person who is resisting arrest but who poses no immediate threat to anyone. Which principle should guide the level of force used?

  1. Force must be no more than is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances Correct answer.
  2. Force should be used until the person stops resisting completely
  3. Force should be decided by the officer's own physical strength
  4. The same level of force should be used with every suspect for consistency

Explanation

The use of force standard requires that force be reasonable, necessary and proportionate, and no more than the minimum needed in the circumstances. The assessment must be kept under review as the situation changes.

Question 8Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is asked to attend an incident at the home of a close relative. What should the officer do?

  1. Attend and deal with it, then tell a supervisor afterwards
  2. Declare the conflict to a supervisor and ask to be replaced Correct answer.
  3. Attend but let another officer make any decisions
  4. Attend, because a familiar face will reassure the relative

Explanation

Officers must avoid conflicts of interest and declare them so that supervisors can decide how the incident is handled. Dealing personally with a relative's incident risks a partial investigation or the appearance of one.

Question 9Professional standards and ethical judgement

A friend asks an officer to check police systems for information about a neighbour's car. What should the officer do?

  1. Ask a colleague to check it instead to avoid a personal conflict
  2. Check the system but give only limited information to the friend
  3. Refuse, and explain that police systems may only be used for a policing purpose Correct answer.
  4. Check the system because the friend has a genuine worry about the neighbour

Explanation

Police systems may only be accessed for a policing purpose; using them to help a friend is a breach of confidentiality and may be an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 or the Data Protection Act 2018. Declining and explaining the rule is the correct response.

Question 10Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer wants to stop and search a teenager in an area known for drug dealing. Which basis is required before the search?

  1. The person's previous convictions for drug offences
  2. A hunch based on the officer's experience of the area
  3. Reasonable grounds to suspect the person is carrying a prohibited item Correct answer.
  4. A request from a member of the public who dislikes the person

Explanation

PACE Code A requires reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is carrying a prohibited item before a search, based on objective facts and information. Generalisations about an area, or a person's previous convictions, do not by themselves provide reasonable grounds.

Question 11Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer wants to start a part-time business selling security equipment. What must the officer do first?

  1. Declare the business interest and obtain written approval before starting Correct answer.
  2. Register the business in a relative's name to avoid any conflict
  3. Start the business and tell a supervisor once it is established
  4. Nothing, provided the business is run outside duty hours

Explanation

Officers must declare business interests and obtain written approval before starting outside work, so that incompatible activity and conflicts of interest can be identified. Some businesses, such as those linked to security, are incompatible with policing.

Question 12Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer has been prescribed a new medication that may cause drowsiness and is due to start a night shift. What should the officer do?

  1. Swap the shift with a colleague without telling anyone
  2. Take half the dose so they can complete the shift
  3. Tell their supervisor about the medication before the shift begins Correct answer.
  4. Start the shift and monitor how they feel during the night

Explanation

Fitness for duty requires officers to report anything that may affect their ability to work safely, including the effects of prescribed medication. Supervisors can then adjust duties or obtain occupational health advice.

Question 13Professional standards and ethical judgement

Shortly before giving evidence in court, an officer realises that a notebook entry about a key timing is inaccurate. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Amend the notebook quietly so the record matches their memory
  2. Disclose the inaccuracy to the prosecutor and correct the evidence Correct answer.
  3. Rely on the note, as contemporaneous notes are always preferred
  4. Say nothing, because the point is unlikely to be challenged

Explanation

The duty of candour requires officers to give truthful, accurate and complete evidence and to correct anything that could mislead the court. Concealing or altering an inaccurate record would damage the integrity of the proceedings and may amount to an offence.

Question 14Professional standards and ethical judgement

While investigating a case, an officer develops a romantic interest in an adult victim they have met through their duties. What is the correct approach?

  1. Let the person decide whether the relationship should continue
  2. Pursue the relationship once the investigation has concluded
  3. Pursue the relationship discreetly while the case file remains open
  4. Declare the situation and have no contact outside the professional role Correct answer.

Explanation

Any sexual or romantic relationship between an officer and a person they have met through their duties, such as a victim or witness, is an abuse of position and is prohibited. This applies regardless of who initiates it or whether the investigation has ended.

Question 15Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer wants to raise a serious concern about corruption in their team but does not trust their line manager. Where can the officer take the concern?

  1. They can only raise it once a criminal investigation has started
  2. They must always raise concerns through their line manager first
  3. They have no route other than resigning from the force
  4. They can report to professional standards, the IOPC or another prescribed body Correct answer.

Explanation

Concerns about wrongdoing can be reported to a supervisor, the professional standards department or an independent body such as the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Whistleblowers are protected, so a concern does not have to go through a manager the officer distrusts.

Question 16Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer finds £200 in cash while searching an empty property. What should the officer do?

  1. Seize and record the cash as property and log it in the property system Correct answer.
  2. Hand it to the occupant if one is identified later
  3. Keep it in a pocket until the end of the shift in case it is claimed
  4. Use it to cover operational expenses and record the amount

Explanation

Property found or seized in the course of duty must be recorded and stored in line with force procedures so that its whereabouts are known at all times. Failing to do so creates a risk of loss and raises questions of honesty and integrity.

Question 17Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer learns that their new partner's adult child has convictions for dishonesty offences. What should the officer do?

  1. Keep it private, as it concerns someone else's past
  2. End the relationship so there is no risk of a conflict
  3. Ask the partner to ensure the child has no contact with them
  4. Declare the association to a supervisor in line with force policy Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers must declare associations that could compromise them or expose them to risk, such as a close link to someone with convictions for dishonesty. Declaring the association allows the force to assess and manage any risk.

Question 18Professional standards and ethical judgement

An off-duty officer in a pub sees a violent fight break out. What should the officer do?

  1. Identify themselves, if safe to do so, and act in line with training Correct answer.
  2. Leave immediately, because they have no responsibility while off duty
  3. Film the incident on their phone and take no other action
  4. Tell the pub staff to call 999 and stay out of the way

Explanation

Off-duty officers remain bound by the standards of professional behaviour, including discreditable conduct, and are expected to act with care and skill. They should identify themselves, act where it is safe and lawful to do so, and report the incident afterwards.

Question 19Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is posted to police a demonstration about a policy that a close family member has publicly campaigned against. What should the officer do?

  1. Swap with a colleague without informing anyone to avoid trouble
  2. Share their own views with demonstrators to build rapport
  3. Declare the connection to their supervisor so any conflict can be managed Correct answer.
  4. Avoid speaking to any demonstrator who shares the family's views

Explanation

Officers must be impartial and must be seen to be impartial, so personal connections to a demonstration must be declared. A supervisor can then decide whether duties should be adjusted, rather than the officer deciding alone.

Question 20Professional standards and ethical judgement

At a roadside stop, a driver offers an officer £100 to ignore a traffic offence. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Refuse the money and let the driver go with a warning
  2. Refuse the money and say nothing further about the offer
  3. Refuse, report the offer and deal with the driver in the normal way Correct answer.
  4. Refuse the money and ask the driver to explain the offer

Explanation

An offer of money must be refused and reported so that the attempted bribery can be investigated and recorded as a corruption risk. The officer must also deal with the original offence on its merits and must not be influenced by the offer.

Question 21Professional standards and ethical judgement

A supervisor gives an officer an instruction to complete a task in a way the officer believes is inefficient but which is neither unlawful nor unsafe. What should the officer do?

  1. Follow the instruction and raise any concerns with the supervisor afterwards Correct answer.
  2. Follow the instruction but report the supervisor to professional standards
  3. Refuse the instruction because they disagree with the method
  4. Ask a colleague to do it instead so they are not responsible

Explanation

The orders and instructions standard requires officers to follow lawful and reasonable instructions; disagreement about method is not a reason to refuse. Concerns can be raised with the supervisor or through the chain of command afterwards.

Question 22Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is told that a member of the public has made a complaint about their off-duty behaviour. What should the officer do?

  1. Ask colleagues to support them before giving their account
  2. Contact the complainant directly to explain their side of the story
  3. Cooperate fully with the complaints process and provide an honest account Correct answer.
  4. Decline to comment until any court proceedings have begun

Explanation

Officers must cooperate with the complaints and misconduct process and give truthful accounts. Contacting a complainant directly risks interfering with the investigation and may itself amount to misconduct.

Question 23Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer stops a motorist who is shouting and upset. Which approach best reflects the standards expected of police officers?

  1. Raise their voice to make clear who is in charge
  2. Warn the driver that continued shouting will be treated as an offence
  3. Ignore the shouting and issue the ticket without explanation
  4. Remain calm, explain the reason for the stop and listen to the driver Correct answer.

Explanation

The standards on authority, respect and courtesy require officers to treat people with respect, explain their decisions and listen. Calm, clear communication reduces the risk of escalation and builds public confidence.

Question 24Professional standards and ethical judgement

A social services colleague asks an officer for information about a child who may be at risk of harm. What should the officer do?

  1. Refuse, because police information can never be shared outside the police service
  2. Tell the agency to apply to a court for a production order in every case
  3. Share only what is necessary for the safeguarding purpose, in line with force policy Correct answer.
  4. Share the full case file without any record to save the agency time

Explanation

Information can be shared with partner agencies where there is a legitimate safeguarding purpose and the disclosure is necessary and proportionate. Only the information needed for that purpose should be shared, and the decision recorded in line with force policy.

Question 25Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer feels under pressure to meet an arrest target before the end of their shift. What is the most ethically sound response?

  1. Act only on lawful grounds in each case and raise the pressure with a supervisor Correct answer.
  2. Record fewer arrests than were made to balance the figures
  3. Arrest people who are likely to have committed an offence to meet the target
  4. Ignore the target but not mention it to anyone

Explanation

Officers must act with honesty and integrity and may only use powers such as arrest where lawful grounds exist; performance targets never justify improper arrests. Raising the pressure through a supervisor addresses the source of the problem properly.

Question 26Professional standards and ethical judgement

While on patrol, a member of the public offers an officer a £50 gift voucher as thanks for helping them. What should the officer do?

  1. Accept it only if no one else sees.
  2. Accept it because the value is modest.
  3. Accept it and share it with the team.
  4. Decline politely and record the offer. Correct answer.

Explanation

Police officers must not accept gifts or hospitality that could influence, or appear to influence, their judgement. Force policy normally requires offers to be declined and recorded so that transparency is maintained. Even modest gifts can create a sense of obligation.

Question 27Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer wants to post about an arrest they made that day on their personal social media account. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Post a photo of the scene without names.
  2. Post the details if the account is set to private.
  3. Ask a colleague to post it instead.
  4. Do not post operational details. Correct answer.

Explanation

Operational information is confidential and personal social media posts can compromise investigations, victims and fair proceedings. Force social media policy governs what officers may share online. Privacy settings do not remove the risk.

Question 28Professional standards and ethical judgement

While giving evidence, an officer is asked about a detail they cannot remember. What should the officer say?

  1. Say they definitely remember it.
  2. Guess confidently based on what usually happens in such cases.
  3. Avoid answering and change the subject.
  4. Say they cannot recall; ask to check notes. Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers must give honest, accurate evidence to the court. If a detail is not recalled, saying so and asking to refresh memory from notes is proper. Guessing or pretending to remember is dishonest and can mislead the court.

Question 29Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer arriving for a night shift notices that a colleague smells strongly of alcohol. What should the officer do?

  1. Tell the colleague to drink coffee before starting.
  2. Report it to a supervisor straight away. Correct answer.
  3. Ignore it because it is not their business.
  4. Wait to see whether the colleague makes a mistake.

Explanation

Officers have a duty to report concerns about a colleague's fitness for duty so that safety and public confidence are protected. A supervisor can assess the situation and take appropriate action. Ignoring the issue could place the public and colleagues at risk.

Question 30Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer has just helped a victim of a burglary. The victim offers to drive the officer home at the end of the shift. What should the officer do?

  1. Accept because it saves the force money.
  2. Accept and ask the victim for their phone number.
  3. Accept only if the victim insists.
  4. Decline and explain professional boundaries. Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers must avoid relationships with victims that could compromise impartiality or be seen as exploitative. Personal offers should be declined politely while maintaining a professional manner. Accepting can blur boundaries and damage confidence in the police.

Question 31Professional standards and ethical judgement

A journalist contacts an officer directly and asks them to confirm details of an ongoing investigation. What should the officer do?

  1. Refer the journalist to the press office. Correct answer.
  2. Ask the journalist to call back after the shift.
  3. Give the details off the record.
  4. Confirm only what is already widely known.

Explanation

Information about investigations is confidential and must be released only through authorised channels. Referring the journalist to the force press office protects the investigation and ensures a consistent public message. Officers should not make informal disclosures to the media.

Question 32Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is asked by a busy colleague to write and sign the colleague's incident report for them. What should the officer do?

  1. Write it and let the colleague sign it.
  2. Write it only if the colleague checks it later.
  3. Write it and sign their own name.
  4. Decline; the attending officer must complete it. Correct answer.

Explanation

Official records must be accurate and attributable to the officer who dealt with the incident. An officer should not author or sign a report for events they did not personally attend. The attending officer must complete their own account.

Question 33Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer sees a colleague use force on a compliant detainee who is not resisting. What should the officer do?

  1. Wait until the end of the shift to mention it.
  2. Intervene if safe and report the incident. Correct answer.
  3. Join in so the colleague is not alone.
  4. Say nothing to avoid undermining the colleague.

Explanation

Force must be necessary, proportionate and lawful. Officers have a duty to intervene where they safely can and to report excessive force. Silence or participation can amount to accepting serious misconduct.

Question 34Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is asked to provide a character reference for a friend's job application. What should the officer do?

  1. Refuse because police officers cannot give references.
  2. Give it as a private citizen. Correct answer.
  3. Use police letterhead to make it more credible.
  4. Include details from police systems to support it.

Explanation

Officers may have private lives but must not use their position, title or police resources to add weight to personal references. A reference may be given as a private citizen where force policy allows. Police systems must never be used for personal purposes.

Question 35Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is offered a discount on a personal car repair by a garage that is currently under police investigation. What should the officer do?

  1. Accept the discount but tell a colleague.
  2. Refuse the discount and report the offer. Correct answer.
  3. Accept it because it is a private transaction.
  4. Accept it only if the investigation is closed.

Explanation

Accepting a benefit from someone connected to an investigation creates a conflict of interest and undermines impartiality. The offer should be refused and reported so that it can be managed transparently. A private transaction can still amount to misconduct.

Question 36Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is dispatched to a domestic incident and realises the suspect is their next-door neighbour. What should the officer do?

  1. Continue but leave the neighbour out of the report.
  2. Declare the conflict and request another officer. Correct answer.
  3. Deal with it quickly before anyone notices.
  4. Ask the neighbour to step outside for a quiet word.

Explanation

Officers must declare any personal connection that could affect their impartiality and step back from the incident. Another officer should take the primary role so that decisions are seen to be fair. Concealing the connection undermines public confidence.

Question 37Professional standards and ethical judgement

A colleague asks an officer to support a false account of an arrest by saying the suspect resisted. What should the officer do?

  1. Refuse and report the request. Correct answer.
  2. Agree to keep team loyalty.
  3. Say nothing and let the colleague's account stand.
  4. Agree only if the suspect is known to be violent.

Explanation

Officers must never fabricate or support false accounts, even to help a colleague. Dishonesty in official accounts is serious misconduct and can undermine prosecutions and public trust. The request should be refused and reported.

Question 38Professional standards and ethical judgement

A member of the public asks an officer to pose for a photo that will be posted online with a caption supporting a local campaign. What should the officer do?

  1. Agree if the officer's face is blurred.
  2. Agree and ask to approve the caption first.
  3. Agree if the campaign is peaceful.
  4. Decline and explain the neutrality rule. Correct answer.

Explanation

Police must remain politically neutral and must not give the impression of endorsing campaigns or causes. Such photos can damage public confidence and suggest bias. A peaceful purpose does not remove the neutrality concern.

Question 39Professional standards and ethical judgement

After a stop and search that finds nothing, the person asks for a record of the search. What should the officer do?

  1. Refuse because no offence was found.
  2. Provide a verbal summary only.
  3. Explain how to obtain the record. Correct answer.
  4. Say records are only for arrested persons.

Explanation

People who are stopped and searched have a right to a record of the search, and officers should explain how it can be obtained in line with policy. Transparency supports accountability and public confidence. A search does not need to result in an arrest for a record to be required.

Question 40Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer spots an honest mistake in a colleague's form that could cause a delay. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Leave it because it is not the officer's form.
  2. Point it out so the colleague can correct it. Correct answer.
  3. Correct it secretly and sign the colleague's name.
  4. Report the colleague for misconduct immediately.

Explanation

The right response to an honest error is to have the person responsible correct it, preserving accurate records and accountability. This supports accuracy without treating a genuine mistake as deliberate misconduct. Secret correction or immediate misconduct reporting would be disproportionate or dishonest.

Question 41Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is asked by a relative to check police intelligence about a business rival in a civil dispute. What should the officer do?

  1. Ask a colleague to check it on the officer's behalf.
  2. Refuse and explain the policing-purpose rule. Correct answer.
  3. Check it if the relative promises to keep it confidential.
  4. Check it but share only a brief summary with the relative.

Explanation

Police systems and intelligence may only be used for legitimate policing purposes. Using them to help a relative in a civil dispute is a serious breach of data protection and professional standards. Asking a colleague to do so does not remove the impropriety.

Question 42Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is asked to sign a search warrant application they believe does not meet the legal threshold. What should the officer do?

  1. Sign it because a supervisor supports the application.
  2. Refuse to sign without lawful grounds. Correct answer.
  3. Sign it and note concerns in a private diary.
  4. Sign it if the search is likely to find evidence.

Explanation

Warrants require lawful grounds and officers are personally accountable for applications they sign. A belief that evidence may be found does not replace the legal threshold. Concerns should be resolved before any application is made.

Question 43Professional standards and ethical judgement

An off-duty officer sees a shoplifter running from a store. What should the officer do first?

  1. Chase and arrest the person without identifying themselves.
  2. Assess the risk and report it. Correct answer.
  3. Ignore it because they are off duty.
  4. Film the person and post the footage online.

Explanation

Off-duty officers remain police officers but must assess risk and act within their training and equipment. Where a safe intervention is not possible, reporting the incident is appropriate. They should identify themselves if they do intervene.

Question 44Professional standards and ethical judgement

A person asks an officer for all the information the police hold about them. What should the officer do?

  1. Provide everything immediately from the police computer.
  2. Refuse because police data is always exempt.
  3. Direct the request to the force's data protection team. Correct answer.
  4. Ask the person to submit a freedom of information request.

Explanation

Requests for personal data are subject access requests under data protection law and must be handled through the proper channel, with exemptions applied where lawful. Officers should not disclose records informally. Directing the request ensures it is properly assessed.

Question 45Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer's partner is applying for a civilian job in the same police force. What should the officer do?

  1. Withdraw from all contact with the partner during recruitment.
  2. Say nothing unless asked directly.
  3. Declare the relationship in line with force policy. Correct answer.
  4. Ask a colleague to keep an eye on the application.

Explanation

Close personal relationships can create conflicts of interest, and force policy requires declaration so that appropriate safeguards can be put in place. Concealment risks perceived favouritism and undermines trust. Declaration allows the organisation to manage the situation openly.

Question 46Professional standards and ethical judgement

Before interviewing a suspect about an offence, what must an officer do?

  1. Caution the suspect properly. Correct answer.
  2. Ask the suspect to sign a confession.
  3. Tell the suspect they have no right to silence.
  4. Wait until the suspect is charged.

Explanation

A suspect must be cautioned before questioning once there are grounds to suspect them. The caution ensures they understand their right to silence and the consequences of failing to mention facts later relied on in court. Questioning before charge is a normal part of investigation.

Question 47Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer hears a colleague being rude and dismissive to a member of the public. What should the officer do?

  1. Intervene and address it afterwards. Correct answer.
  2. Tell the member of public to calm down.
  3. Record it and wait for a complaint.
  4. Laugh along to avoid awkwardness.

Explanation

Officers are expected to challenge unprofessional behaviour and protect public confidence. Intervening can stop the situation escalating, and the matter should be addressed afterwards. Waiting for a complaint or blaming the member of public fails that duty.

Question 48Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer needs to photograph a crime scene but has no force camera. What should they do?

  1. Use a personal phone and keep the photos private.
  2. Use approved force equipment or procedures. Correct answer.
  3. Ask a member of the public to take photos.
  4. Skip the photos and rely on memory.

Explanation

Evidence must be captured and stored using approved equipment and procedures so that continuity and confidentiality are maintained. Personal devices and members of the public create risks of contamination and unauthorised disclosure. Proper procedures protect the evidential value.

Question 49Professional standards and ethical judgement

An officer is transporting a detainee and finds the rear seatbelt in the cage is broken. What should the officer do?

  1. Continue but drive more slowly.
  2. Ask the detainee to hold the belt closed.
  3. Continue because the journey is short.
  4. Stop and arrange safe approved transport. Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers have a duty of care to detainees and must not use unsafe equipment. A broken restraint could cause injury and create liability. The journey should not continue until safe transport is arranged.

Question 50Professional standards and ethical judgement

A colleague asks an officer to tell their supervisor that the colleague was delayed on an urgent call when they were actually late. What should the officer do?

  1. Refuse and advise honesty. Correct answer.
  2. Agree because it is a small favour.
  3. Say nothing and avoid the supervisor.
  4. Agree but only this once.

Explanation

Officers must be honest and must not mislead supervisors, even about minor matters. Covering for a colleague normalises dishonesty and undermines trust. The colleague should be encouraged to give an honest explanation.