Why Worry About Ethics?
Corruption can destroy the efficient functioning of any society and diminish the ability of the Customs Service to accomplish its mission. A corrupt Customs Service will not deliver the revenue that is properly due to the state; it will not be efficient in the fight against illicit trafficking and will obstruct the growth of legitimate international trade and hinder economic development.
Customs has important public responsibilities and must demonstrate high ethical standards to inspire public confidence in the integrity of the service. The community has a right to expect that the behaviour of Customs staff will be in line with their expectations – that is courteous, efficient and above all, ethical.
Ethics deals with the fundamental issues of practical decision-making, and its major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be judged right or wrong. Ethics is a set of principles which determines standards of personal and professional behaviour. It is not just obeying the law, or sticking to rules and regulations; ethics goes beyond the law to include the way of making and justifying decisions when it is not completely clear what is the right or wrong thing to do.
While there is no set of rules capable of providing answers to all ethical questions which arise, a code of conduct may serve as a guide to solving issues for those working in Customs, and those who have dealings with officers of Customs. In many countries it provides the framework for appropriate conduct in a variety of contexts and establishes standards of behaviour expected of Customs officers. "The Code of Ethics and Conduct Booklet" developed by the Australian Customs Service emphasizes the following issues:
"...Personal Behaviour. Customs officers are to: perform official duties with skills, care, diligence and impartiality, using authority in a fair and unbiased way; observe acts, regulations, instructions and lawful directions; provide the public with service in a professional manner; not take improper advantage of any official information acquired in the course of official duties..."
"Criminal offences. All officers of Customs must comply with the law. Breaches of criminal law will lead to prosecution and / or disciplinary action...
Offences relating to legislation which Customs administers are regarded most gravely when committed by Customs officers. Customs officers who commit offences involving prohibited drugs, fraud, accepting bribes, or illegal importation or exportation of goods will be subject to disciplinary action, in addition to any penalty applied as a result of criminal proceedings..."
"Gifts or Benefits. The offering of gifts and / or benefits may be seen as an attempt to influence a decision which an officer is required to take...."
The Customs Service has no right to public recognition or trust if its staff break the law habitually. Maintaining an environment that encourages ethical behaviour among all Customs staff must be a high priority for each officer. Customs authorities need to promote a culture which includes such values as honesty, fairness, accountability, professionalism and integrity.
The CCC's Arusha Declaration defines integrity as a science concerning discipline, professional ethics, courtesy, personal integrity and strictness.
It is important that Customs officials establish a code of conduct involving rewards and punishments which should lead to self-discipline and that all staff demonstrate an exemplary level of personal ethics to project an image of Customs that is above reproach. (3000 symbols)
10.2.1. Are the following words positive (+) or negative (-)?
to accomplish illicit breaches
to obstruct courteous diligence
to hinder unbiased impartiality
to obey corrupt bribes
to comply with fair accountability
to justify improper reproach
Choose the verbs given below that collocate with the following nouns.
deliver, win, adopt, settle, face, betray, generate, pay, solve, obey, tackle, impose, enforce, shake, produce, inspire, rescind, violate, collect, to be subject to
1) _____ revenue 2) __________ law 3) issue
4) ______ confidence 5) penalty
10.2.3. Make up sentences matching up the two halves:
| 1) Corruption 2) Ethics 3) Customs officers 4) The Arusha Declaration 5) The community... 6) A code of conduct... 7) Offences... 8) A corrupt Customs Service. | a. who commit offences involving prohibited drugs, fraud, accepting bribes, or illegal importation or exportation of goods will be subject to disciplinary action. b. has the right to expect that the behaviour of Customs staff will be in line with their expectations. c. are regarded most gravely when committed by Customs officers. d. can destroy the efficient functioning of any society. e. will not be efficient in the fight against illicit trafficking. f. defines integrity as a science concerning discipline, professional ethics, courtesy, personal integrity and strictness. g. is a set of principles which determines standards of personal and professional behaviour. h. provides the framework for appropriate conduct in a variety of contexts and establishes standards of behaviour expected of Customs officers. |
10.2.4. Group the following words and phrases into 3 families:
revenue fraud regulations
behaviour penalty prohibited drugs
breaches to judge to justify
courteous a set of principles disciplinary action
offences to obey trafficking
framework to comply with punishment
