Katika utangulizi wa PGO ya polisi ya Tanzania inasema hivi
Nukuu
i. INTEGRITY - Members will always maintain personal integrity in
all that they do, at work and at home.
ii. EXCELLENCE - Members will always pursue excellence for
themselves and the Force.
iii. FAIRNESS - Members will always treat all persons fairly.
iv. PRIDE - Members will take pride in themselves, the Force, and
their profession and shall always maintain their honor.
v. HONESTY - Members will always be honest; honest to
themselves, to their supervisors, and to the public.
vi. SERVICE - Members will always endeavor to provide the highest
level of service.
vii. COMPASSION - Members will always be compassionate.
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Operative Principles
2. Every member of the Force is duty bound at all times to respect rights and freedoms
as laid down in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania 1977, Cap. 2 R.E. 22002
and the Constitution of Zanzibar 1984 (together hereinafter referred to as the “Constitutions” and
any other legal instruments in force. Any deviation from that principle by any police officer
against any person cannot be accepted except where:
(a) that person infringes the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; and
(b) it is the only way to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
Even in such exceptional cases, a police officer should ensure that such infringement
of those rights and freedoms is kept to a minimum.
3. Every member of the Force should take note that laws and regulations change from
time to time and therefore every effort must be made to promptly update oneself with such legal
development in the country particularly those that affect their day-to-day activities. The
Police headquarters will to the extent possible ensure Commanding Officers are adequately
updated on all legal developments in the country that affect police work.
Independence within the criminal justice system
4. Every member of the Force is required to take note of the principle of the
independence of the judiciary in the execution of his duties. The observation of the existing
demarcation of the responsibilities of the three main branches of the state helps to sustain
harmony and avoid unnecessary conflicts between the Force and other Government
functionaries.
6. The Force is vested with a limited number of quasi-judicial powers. Such powers
include the compounding of some offenses, admitting suspects to police bonds, issuing
warnings and notifications to traffic offenders, and revocation of lawfully issued permits or licenses
such as arms licenses and driving licenses. In exercising these powers every care should be taken
as decisions made thereunder may be contestable in legal proceedings. The legal rights and
remedies available to people affected by the exercise of the police quasi-judicial powers should
be adequately protected.
12. Confidentiality of informers and crime information is the essence of the public’s
confidence in cooperating with the police in the maintenance of law and order. No police, the
world over has ever been able to achieve much without properly endorsing this most important
public’s confidence in its members. Commanding Officers and all senior officers should
endeavor at ensuring the observation of this integral principle of police work.
Guiding principles regarding police action
13. Protection of life and property is the essence of the Force and this is realized through
the enforcement of the laws of the land without any discrimination. It is therefore the
responsibility of every member to guarantee members of the community of their equality before
the law irrespective of life status socially, politically, or economically by treating every person
with due dignity and respect.
14. Objectivity in police action should always be a guiding lead to any member as it
ensures fairness and impartiality. Any decision for police action by any member should be
reasonable and should avoid being carried away by any discriminatory factor such as nationality,
tribe or ethnic origin, political opinion, color, sex, race, language, religion, or social status.
15. Torture and any inhuman or degrading treatment to any person by any member of the
The force under any circumstances is totally intolerable. In any dealings with the public, every
member should accord deserving respect and dignity as required by the circumstances.
16. The use of force by any member of the Force will only be acceptable to the extent
considered necessary to achieve a legitimate objective. Every member shall therefore apply force
in performing his duties only when absolutely necessary and only to the extent needed to attain
the lawful objective.
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Specific cases - Police investigations
19. The purpose of police investigations is generally to unveil all facts relating to
the information of a reported or imminent crime incidence for appropriate decision and action. Civil
matters are not a concern of the Force unless they are a crime incidence appendage and as such
civil matters should not be subject to police investigations. In some cases, police are directed by
courts of law to oversee the execution of a court order or decree arising out of civil matters to
ensure law and order. In any case, civil matters brought to the police for investigative action shall
courteously be redirected to the courts where remedies can be obtained. Every member of the
Force should therefore desist from involving in investigations in civil matters.
20. The guiding principle in all police investigations should be the presumption of
innocence. Basing police investigations on any other presumption will normally not lead to
uncovering the truth of the matter under investigation and hence the delivery of appropriate
justice.
21. Crimes are actions defined as such by the laws. Police investigations must adhere
strictly to the relevant laws. It is emphasized that wherever police investigations involve
vulnerable groups of the community the applicable laws should strictly be adhered to.
22. Interviews and interrogations of witnesses, suspects, and accused persons shall be
carried out in strict compliance with the relevant guidelines in these orders. It is hereby emphasized
that records of all such interviews and interrogations should be appropriately kept.
23. Rights and specific privileges of witnesses, suspects, and accused persons shall at all
times be protected.
24. Every member shall render any necessary support and assistance to victims of crimes.
25. Any needs for translators and interpreters arising during police investigations shall be
adequately addressed.
Specific cases - Arrest/ deprivation of liberty by the police
26. Arrests involve the deprivation of a person’s freedom and liberty and as such shall be
carried out with all due care and diligence. All guidelines relating to arrests stipulated in these
orders shall be strictly adhered to.
27. Every member shall observe the right of an arrested person to be informed of the
reasons for his/her arrest in a clear language subject to obtaining circumstances.
28. The safety of a person under the custody of police is the responsibility of the arresting
officer and any other officer under whose charge the arrested person is placed.
29. The rights of communication of an arrested person as detailed in these orders shall be
strictly observed by all members of the Force
Specific cases - Respect for private life and other rights
30. Members of the Force are strictly prohibited from infringing any person’s rights to
private and family life including homes and correspondences. Infringement of this right is only
acceptable where there exist specific lawful grounds and even in such cases, it is emphasized that
the infringement must be kept to a minimum.
31. The rights of an individual include his personal data and as such the collection,
storage and use of such data by any member of the Force shall be limited to what is necessary for
the attainment of specific lawful objectives.
32. Every member of the Force shall at all times respect an individual’s right to
freedom of opinion, conscience, expression, peaceful assembly, movement, and peaceful
enjoyment of property. Infringement of these rights will be acceptable only in specific legitimate
circumstances laid down in the laws and amplified by these orders.
Specific cases - Use of Firearms
33. The use of firearms tends to conflict with the essence of the Force of protection of
life. It is for this reason that every member of the Force is called upon to attain the highest
degree of proficiency in the use of firearms and the orders regulating such use.
34. It is the responsibility of every Commanding Officer and senior officer to ensure
members under their charge are appropriately instructed on the correct use of arms in the
performance of police duties.
*Wajielekeze katika mwongozo wao huo kwa kuzingatia sheria bila kutumia mwanya wa uharifu kufanya kinyume chake.
