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Values are something that a person believe in, or like. Within the forces, there are core values. Core values are something that an armed forces member has to follow in order to go far within the services. For example, some core values are:

Honesty - Being truthful to others. A vital value needed in any public service. For example on the Royal Navy, admitting to an officer that you have done something wrong, even if you feel it is not right to do.

Self Respect - To value yourself - Needed in public services in order to achieve. For example on the Royal Navy, keeping good hygiene no matter what.

Respect for others - To treat others with kindness and show high regard. For example on the Royal Navy, addressing officers and other rates by their rank, no matter what relationship you have with them.

Integrity - To have lots of commitment no matter what. For example on the Royal Navy, in training, completing a task even though you see it really hard, you push to complete it.

Tolerance - To not be unkind or hateful, no matter what. For example on the Royal Navy, not liking an officer, but not causing arguments or conflict, to stay professional and to carry out a task efficiently.

These values are all vital to have in order to succeed in the public services.

Reference Definition:

"The British Army’s Values are the moral principles which define who British soldiers are as individuals and what the British Army stands for as an organisation." (British army Values and standards 2018).

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Standards are something that someone is required to follow in order to be successful in something. In the Armed forces, they use Standards as a basic list of rules/guidelines to help an armed forces member go far. For example, some standards are:

Confidentiality - To be able to hold information without leaking anything. Breach of this can lead to serious disciplinary action. For example on the Royal Navy, a breach of confidentiality would be leaking personal information of a fellow officer or leakage of classified documents about an operation.

Security - To protect anyone or anything against harm or serious danger. For example on the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Police provide security for bases all over the country, ensuring no risk or dangers enter the base.

Substance abuse - Addiction on any form of narcotic or alcohol. Cannot join any services if you have any history of substance abuse. For example on the Royal Navy, during vetting processes, people are checked for history of substance abuse. Any recent history could hinder someone's chances of making it into the Navy.

Reference Definition:

"Standards are the authoritative benchmarks against which we judge our conduct." (British army Values and Standards 2018).

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Morals are similar to standards, but are standards of right and wrongs. For example, In the armed forces, it would be morally wrong to kill an unarmed person in combat.

Code of ethics - A set list of Moral rules that must be followed by any service. Highlighted in the Armed Forces Act 2006 for Armed Forces. For example on the Royal Navy, a set of ethical rules are to be followed in compliance to the Armed Forces Act of 2006, otherwise serious disciplinary or criminal action will take place.

Principles of right and wrong - To understand what is correct in society and in the battlefield, and what is wrong. For example in the British Army, if you encounter an enemy that is wounded and unarmed, you would take them in, not finish them off by shooting them until they are deceased.

Rules of Conduct - Rules put in place both by the designated service and legislations such as the Armed Forces Act 2006. For example on the Royal Navy, They have their own rules of conduct on how to behave and act in the Royal Navy as well as following the conduct section of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

Standards/Principles of Behaviour - How a member of a public service should be expected to act in order to succeed in the public services. For example on the Royal Navy, Behaviour should be to the highest standard, so no signs of any immaturity or silly behaviour. Otherwise, Disciplinaries could take place.

Referenced Definition:

"Principles or habits relating to right or wrong conduct, based on an individual’s own compass of right and wrong." (Oxford dictionary)

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https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/ethics-versus-morals

https://www.army.mod.uk/media/5219/20180910-values_standards_2018_final.pdf

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-07-02/former-royal-navy-head-sacked-after-investigation-into-his-behaviour

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/52/section/42

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How Values, Standards and Morals have evolved.

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How Values, Standards and Morals have evolved.

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In the Royal Navy, there have been many changes over the years.

For example, women were not allowed to serve on the surface fleet until 1990, and were not allowed to serve on the submarine fleet until 2013. They were also not allowed to become pilots in the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) until 1998. Women still only make up 11.3% on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines but it is still an increase from 8% in 2000. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Sarah West was the first female to take major command of a warship in the Royal Navy. She was the commander of the Amphibious Task Group in 2005 as an underwater specialist, and then commanding ships until her removal from command in 2014 after allegations of having affairs with some of her officers.

Homosexuals were not allowed to join the Royal Navy until 2000. It was illegal to serve, until 1999 when the Equality Act was updated by the European court of Human Rights. Now it is illegal to deny someone entry into the Armed forces based on sexuality.

It was not until 1990 where women could take maternity leave in the Royal navy. Before 1990, women had to leave the armed forces if they became pregnant. However, in 1990, this was changed, allowing women to take maternity leave if they became pregnant instead of leaving the forces.

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Admiral Ben Key was the former First Sea Lord, also known as the Head of the Royal Navy. He was appointed in 2021.

Ben Key was dismissed from his role in May 2025, under investigation after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female colleague under his command.

(It is believed to be the first time in the Navy’s 500-year history that its top officer has faced a misconduct inquiry.) (PA, ITVX, 2025)

This goes against Royal Navy values, such as self respect. By not thinking about what his actions could have done to him and his role, that is a lack of self-respect.

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Case Study - PNC (Police National Computer) Misconduct

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Case Study - PNC (Police National Computer) Misconduct

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In January 2024, the Metropolitan Police released a document, which showed the amount of Police Officers and Police staff that illegally misused the PNC (Police National Computer) systems to gain confidential information about people or other confidential pieces of data.

This document showed that from 2013-2023, there had been 122 cases of Police Officers and Police staff that had used the PNC system to illegally obtain data for their own use. This goes against Standards, such as confidentiality. This is because data from the PNC is confidential data, and by accessing it for personal use goes against confidentiality. It also goes against Security. This is because by Officers and Staff illegally using the PNC, it risks the security of the data on the systems.

This breach of data on the PNC is a violation of the DPA (Data Protection Act) 2018 Part 6 Chapter 2 Section 170 which states:

"It is an offence for a person knowingly or recklessly—

(a)to obtain or disclose personal data without the consent of the controller,

(b)to procure the disclosure of personal data to another person without the consent of the controller, or

(c)after obtaining personal data, to retain it without the consent of the person who was the controller in relation to the personal data when it was obtained."

(Legislation.gov.uk, 2018)

https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/disclosure-2024/january-2024/police-staff-illegally-accessing-pnc-2013-2023/

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Case study - Sergeant Alexander Blackman

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Case study - Sergeant Alexander Blackman

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Sergeant Alexander Blackman was a Sergeant of the Royal Marines 42 Commando who shot dead an injured and unarmed Taliban Fighter in 2011 in Afghanistan.

Alexander was caught on body-worn video saying "Shuffle off this mortal coil, you ****" before shooting this Taliban Fighter in the chest with his sidearm.

He was tried in court in 2013 and was served a life sentence for murder. After a campaign, his murder charge was reduced to a manslaughter charge.

This act from Alexander Blackman is a breach of Section 42 of the Armed forces act of 2006, which states:

"A person subject to service law, or a civilian subject to service discipline, commits an offence under this section if he does any act that—

(a)is punishable by the law of England and Wales; or

(b)if done in England or Wales, would be so punishable."

(Legislation.gov.uk, 2006)

This is also a breach of the Geneva convention too.