Etiquette, Diplomatic Protocol and Savoir-Vivre as the Code of Conduct for Police Officers

Principles of good manners are associated with courtesy, politeness, tact, good behaviour standards, or savoir-vivre. They include a set of specific rules of conduct that are approved of by a given community. Because courtesy plays an important role in shaping interpersonal relations, the knowledge of etiquette by officers of the services subordinate to and supervised by the Minister of the Internal Affairs and Administration in Poland is the basis for functioning in day-to-day service. Unfortunately, the notions and principles of etiquette are often confused with the principles of an official ceremonial protocol in business pragmatics. This article features the basic principles which should be followed, and not only by every police officer. After all, ignorance of the rules of protocol may lead to our being ridiculed, along with the force which we represent, both in professional and private life.