Public safety refers to the protection of the general public within the territories of the country. This governmental obligation is meant to safeguard people's welfare from societal immoralities such as crimes and threats. Public safety also protects the organizations and institutions in the country from attacks and insecurity. Individual rights are the actions in which an individual in the country is guaranteed to partake freely and is protected by the law from unlawful interruption. However, rights are limited so that they do not violate other citizen’s rights.
Like any other citizen, government officials are obliged to uphold the rule of law in ensuring public safety and respect for human rights. Government officials represent the government in their respective capacities. Therefore, whatever they engage indicates the government's stand on the law. For instance, in recruitment, government officials should practice fairness and equality in employment. The allocation of government resources should be equal and in a non-discriminatory manner. The police officers and personal guards are mandated to enforce the law and protect human rights at all levels (Pivetti et al., 2017). Police officers detect and take actions on reported criminal acts in society. Besides, police officers are obliged to protect and enforce respect for human rights. For instance, they protect conflicted criminals from the wrath of the furious public.
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The security guards are more focused on preventing crimes rather than responding to criminal activities. This team acts to avoid possible criminal instances against their assigned individuals. In most cases, the security guards are posted to senior state officials. The private citizens are responsible for keeping in touch with the government representative and police officers to report criminal activities or threats to public safety. Private citizens are not advised to punish criminals or judge them. However, citizens have offered mob justice to alleged criminals on many occasions before the police chip in.
Public safety and individual rights are also upheld by regulating search, seizure, and surveillance from police, security guards, and private citizens. The Fourth Amendment law protects people in their houses, cars and promotes the freedom from unlawful and unnecessary search by police officers (Brennan-Marquez, 2017). This law limits the government from illegal seizure and examination of personal property in a quest to obtain evidence. Additionally, the law dictates that evidence obtained illegally against a criminal is dismissed and unacceptable. This law has attracted much controversy as police intelligence groups cite that it protects the public excessively, giving a rapport for criminals to maneuver some ways to escape justice. However, the law is primarily to promote security and respect for personal property and human dignity.
A warrant must lawfully back up a legal search, seizure, or surveillance by the police. Therefore, for a police officer to come into one’s home and claim that they need to search for evidence, the search must be reasonable and accompanied by a legal search warrant. The same applies to other ethical officers such as public prosecutions, criminal investigation departments, or anti-corruption teams. Also, a neutral magistrate's seizure of property should be affirmed who has undoubtedly acquired enough reasons to give such permission. The police should also not trail a person, or his/her car, in search of information illegally. Such actions must be authorized legally, and they must adhere to required procedures. Private citizens are not permitted to conduct investigations, seizures, or surveillance on their own. They must engage the police departments to obtain the necessary advice for the action.
The first encounter by the police force is guided to be friendly and peaceful in their dealings. This includes their actions in executing their duties, such as obtaining evidence, criminal arrest, or advising the public to disappear from a particular area. The police force is the final plan, which is applied when their subjects turn rogue (Casey-Maslen & Connolly, 2017). This includes violent criminals or the public who may pose a security threat if pressure is not used. However, the force is bound to be minimal and with no harmful impact unless in self-defense cases.
The police apply force in the protection of the public. On the other hand, security personnel acts in the safety of their clients and their subjects. The police officers are entitled to protect the public, while the security guards work contractually between them and assigned clients. In correctional facilities, police officers are only advised to use force where needed. That includes when the prisoners turn violent or act to bring insecurity to other facility users. However, respect for human rights and freedom is the foremost priority and obligation of the police officers.
The right to ensure privacy and protection of personal information is a sensitive law whose violation would have a gross impact. Individuals have the freedom to regulate the kind of information acquired from them. This is mainly to control which information is shared, who has access to the data, and which data is collected (Schwartz & Peifer, 2017). Additionally, the individuals or organizations holding data related to persons are mandated to protect it from third parties without owners' knowledge and affirmation. The social law requires that individuals have the right to find their information kept in organizations. Also, individuals can edit their data if it is inaccurate, incorrect, or not updated. Private information is safeguarded from invasion by unwanted parties, either during the collection, use, or intentional disclosure by the personnel handling the information.
References
Pivetti, M., Caggiano, A., Cieri, F., Battista, S. D., & Berti, C. (2017). Support for the Forensic DNA Database and Public Safety Concerns: An Exploratory Study. The Open Psychology Journal , 10 (1).
Brennan-Marquez, K. (2017). The Constitutional Limits of Private Surveillance. U. Kan. L. Rev. , 66 , 485.
Casey-Maslen, S., & Connolly, S. (2017). Police use of force under international law . Cambridge University Press.
Schwartz, P. M., & Peifer, K. N. (2017). Transatlantic Data Privacy Law. Geo. LJ , 106 , 115.
