Why is the rule of law important for policing in a democracy?

Democracy, a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting, consists of some key elements: A political system for choosing/replacing the government through free/fair elections; The active participation of the people in politics and civic life; Protection of the human rights of all citizens; A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.

Democracy involves respect for the dignity of the person and the ideas associated with universal citizenship, and the limits on the power of the state to intrude into private lives.

The rule of law is a principle whereby all members of a society are considered equally subject to publicly disclosed legal codes/processes (every person is subject to the law).