Public Services

What is discipline?
The will to do the right thing in a timely fashion without getting results. Discipline is knowing right from wrong and the responsibilities for your own actions. Discipline controls a person’s behaviour towards everything in day to day life. If someone has the right discipline it will then contribute to keeping that person in line to ensure you get where you want in life. Having full discipline will make sure that you are on the straight and narrow. It will keep your punctuality intact towards yourself, others and the environment. Without discipline, you will think that you can do whatever you want. You need discipline to tell the truth to start off with; this will ensure that you are taking responsibility for your own actions. Adults in the public services need discipline because their own lives and the lives of others are at risk. If they weren’t well disciplined as a force then the public will have a very poor perception upon them. Discipline puts everything in to place ensuring that things are controlled peacefully. Discipline is like a set of rules, rules are discipline and if you don’t follow them then there are consequences. The need for discipline:

Why do orders need to be followed? With orders brings discipline, things become more organised. If you don’t follow orders then nothing will get done. Everyone would be disrespectful and there would be no order. When we follow orders, we have something to follow so we know what to do, we will become organised. Everyone would be disrespectful, not just to things around us but to ourselves and people around us. Consequences of lack of discipline in the public services: Members of the police force behaving inappropriately may lead to a member of the public suffering negative consequences. For example: A police officer does not carry out of their checks necessary after a violent burglary has taken place, this will then result in to not having enough evidence to find the suspect; therefore the case is left unsold. Later on there is another serious burglary which takes place in the same area by the original suspects which leads to the home owner with various injuries.

The necessity for rules and regulations: If people are not well controlled with discipline and if rules and regulations are not there, then people will either by accident or on purpose will do things that are wrong so that they and others around them suffer. Rules and regulations are there to ensure people behave with respect and in a well controlled manner. Sticking to rules and regulations develop discipline. Maintenance of order: Order and discipline should be maintained with firmness. Rewards: When someone does something well they reserve the right to be rewarded. This shows that for doing well and having a lot of discipline you will then get rewarded. However, if not you have to suffer the consequences which are the opposite of rewards, this could lead to prison.

For example, if you do well in your job you may then have the chance to be promoted. Like in the police, you would move up in rank. Punishment: When disciplining someone you may have to punish them. For example: A person that has taken someone else’s life with murder will then suffer the consequences. If found guilty, they will have to go through a life sentence in prison. Effect on social order: Social order is how people behave in society. It is classified as what is right and wrong in society. Basically, it is needed for society to function properly.

Anarchy: The need of discipline when it comes to anarchy is vital. Absence of government, the state of society, where there is no law or supreme power, the state of lawlessness and political confusion. This is caused by the lack of discipline therefore discipline is a huge part of society.

The role of discipline:

Team spirit: All public services work together as a team usually all of the time. If one person decides to go off and do their own thing, it could then lead to injury. For example; The Hillsborough disaster. Team spirit is extremely important within the public services. Once that one person morals go down, so will the rest of the team. Helping other team members will ensure the team is secure and working well together. You must help each other out because nothing is beyond the power of the group. Make sure that you use a professional attitude. The media bring out a lot of bad stories containing the public services which gives the public a bad view on them.

Sense of duty and honour: People join the public services only if a particular service applies to them. For example, they may like the prospect of a career which may be varied and challenging, with good promotion prospects and security. There are also a lot of other reasons to which people join the public services; however they must ensure that they don’t lose sight of the fact there is a job to get done. They must acknowledge that there is a sense of duty and that life within the public services is not one big adventure with any mundane tasks involved. As a public service employee, many people in the general public can be affected by how you carry out your duty, sometimes with serious consequences. Whatever role you have been given within the uniformed services, you must remember that you have a duty to your colleagues, the service and general public which must be done correctly. You must ensure that you perform your duty to the best of your ability.

Serving the public: As an employee to the public services, it is your duty to serve the public. The public should be the main thing for the services to focus on ensuring that they are safe. For example: this could be a part of the police and fire services roles which includes protecting life and property, whereas the armed forces are there to defend the UK, it’s overseas territories, it’s people and interests. By working within the uniformed services you must commit yourself to your highest ability to serve the general public to ensure that they are safe and to look after their interests in a courteous manner, without prejudice and reward. The public expects you to treat every one of them equally, regardless of race, colour or creed or without seeking financial or personal gain.

Rules/procedures/legislation: There can be no enforcement of social order without rules, regulations and legislation. Likewise, if rules and regulations don’t govern the conduct of members of the uniformed services, and as a result discipline cant be encouraged or enforced. The rules and conduct for the police services and the armed forces make it clear that, amongst other things, the members are encouraged and expected to remain professional, loyal to one and other, the public and their service as well as not bring their service into distribute.

Hierarchical command and rank structure of each service: When you join the police service you will begin your career as a probationary police constable. You have to complete two years of police service before you can affirmed as a fully fledged police constable. Every police officer within the UK is issued with a warrant number at their date of joining. This warrant number remains with them throughout their career and is visible on their shoulder epaulette up to and including the rank of sergeant. The rank system forms the backbone of the army’s structure and it defines a soldier or officer’s role and degree of responsibility. Soldiers and officers have different rank systems. Broadly speaking, officers have more leadership duties. However many officers start off as soldiers, before gaining their commission.