Duty of the Police: The Law Is On Our Side

The Role and Oath of Police Officers

Every police officer is sworn to an oath that encompasses their core responsibilities: “Without fear or favour, malice or ill-will, to protect life and property and to uphold the law.” This duty is fundamental to their role and guides their actions.

To understand this better, consider asking any police officer these two questions:

1. “What would you do if you saw a threat to life or property?”

• The typical response would be: “I would do my best to prevent that threat, and if I couldn’t deal with it by myself, I would call for assistance.”

1. “What would you do if you saw a breach of the law?”

• The likely answer would be: “I would do my best to prevent that breach of the law, and if I couldn’t deal with it by myself, I would call for assistance.”

Environmental Threats as Serious as War

Most people, including police officers, recognize that environmental damage and destruction pose a “real and present threat to life and property”. This threat is arguably as serious as the threat of war, a fact that is becoming increasingly clear to the global population.

In terms of law, millions of people go to work every day knowing that their jobs are contributing to environmental harm. This widespread damage impacts not only the individuals and their families but also their neighbors, escalating to a threat level comparable to that of war.

Addressing Criminal Environmental Damage

Given this context, it can be argued that the most serious threats to life and property and the most severe breaches of the law are due to criminal environmental damage and destruction. Therefore:

1. Every professional police officer must become an active environmental campaigner to fulfill their primary duty of protecting life and property.
2. Every reasonable, prudent, well-intentioned environmental campaigner is effectively upholding the core oath and function of police officers.

Government Responsibility

Our government professes a commitment to law and order. To truly honor this commitment, it must prioritize environmental protection. When jobs are created that benefit the environment instead of harming it, not only will societal well-being improve, but crime rates will likely decrease as a result.

Conclusion

The oath of the police and the responsibilities it entails align perfectly with the goals of environmental campaigners. By recognizing environmental damage as a severe threat to life and property, police officers and citizens alike can unite in a common cause. This alignment ensures that the law remains on our side, promoting a healthier, safer world for all.