Forum Message

Topic: Re: citizens arrest
Posted by: Daniel Bartosik
Date/Time: 04/03/09 13:34:00

Answer
From 1st January 2006 the citizens power of arrest has changed.

This area of law is very complex and the following is only basic guidance. The law states that,

Any person can arrest a person who is in the act of committing an indictable offence or
Anyone whom he reasonably suspects to be committing such an offence, if
it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to make the arrest instead and
it is necessary to arrest the person for one of the below reasons,
To prevent the person in question,

causing physical injury to himself or any other person;
suffering physical injury;
causing loss of or damage to property; or
making off before a constable can assume responsibility for him.
There a  few points to raise about the above paragraph.

What is an indictable offence?
How do I know if I can make a citizens arrest?
1. An indictable offence is an offence that can be tried at Crown Court. Below are examples of indictable offences which are the most likely to be encountered by members of the public,

theft
burglary
criminal damage.
2. You can make an arrest if the suspect is actually committing the offence or if you reasonably suspect them of committing it, or when the offence has been committed and you reasonably suspect them of having committed it.

There is no specific wording to use when making a citizens arrest. However you must inform the person you are arresting as soon as possible what you are doing, why you are doing it and what offence you believe the person has committed.

There are other considerations to make when making an arrest,

reasonable force - see question in related information for details on reasonable force.

potential for civil litigation - The courts are sympathetic to public spirited citizens and the exercise of their powers and rights. However, if you get it wrong you could be sued for unlawful arrest and/or false imprisonment.
Do not make a citizens arrest if you feel that you would be putting yourself or any other person in danger, ring 999.


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
CHISWICK CON LADY08/02/07 21:53:00 Laurian Wright
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY09/02/07 10:21:00 David Archer
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY09/02/07 13:38:00 Philip Walsh
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY11/02/07 00:21:00 Vin Miles
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY11/02/07 13:10:00 Jon Marshall
      Bumped for Holly. no message25/03/10 22:44:00 Becky Bell
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY11/02/07 23:10:00 Nigel Watts-Morgan
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY - SHE'S BACK AGAIN10/12/08 11:24:00 Sian Edwards
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY - SHE'S BACK AGAIN10/12/08 13:18:00 Peter Mielewczyk
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY - SHE'S BACK AGAIN10/12/08 15:13:00 Nick Jenkins
      Bumped - she's been being questioned...19/06/10 21:33:00 Becky Bell
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY13/12/08 12:37:00 Ana Herrera
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY14/12/08 11:47:00 Steve Jefferys
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/01/09 21:11:00 Virginia Mallin
            Re:Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 10:45:00 Stewart Dean
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY14/12/08 22:14:00 Camilla March
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY14/12/08 23:40:00 Jose Carrera
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY15/12/08 13:32:00 Julia Rulf
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY23/12/08 13:42:00 Susanna Harrison
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY23/12/08 15:52:00 Sami Michaels
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY03/01/09 15:26:00 Eileen Atkinson
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY03/01/09 22:08:00 Emily Robinson
         Re: CHISWICK CON LADY03/03/09 22:36:00 Daniel Bartosik
            Re:Re: CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 09:45:00 Nick Jenkins
               Re:Re:Re: CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 10:02:00 Daniel Bartosik
                  Re:Re:Re:Re: CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 12:59:00 Lowenna Roxburgh
                     Re: Just seen her again04/03/09 13:30:00 Daniel Bartosik
                     Re: citizens arrest04/03/09 13:34:00 Daniel Bartosik
                        Re:Re: citizens arrest04/03/09 13:40:00 Lowenna Roxburgh
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY on Burlington Gardens now.04/03/09 13:55:00 Iain Bramley
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY on Burlington Gardens now.05/03/09 10:04:00 Nick Jenkins
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 18:28:00 Sergeant Ben Clark
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 18:38:00 Daniel Bartosik
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 19:08:00 Mrs K Browne
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY04/03/09 20:10:00 Agnieszka Golda
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/03/09 10:52:00 Becky Bell
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/03/09 10:52:00 Becky Bell
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/03/09 10:57:00 Kate Farmer
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/03/09 11:52:00 Andy Horridge
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/03/09 14:59:00 Jenn Irvine
         Bumped for Holly - old thread.25/03/10 22:48:00 Becky Bell
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY25/03/10 23:04:00 Polly Hunt
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY  take her photo26/03/10 13:43:00 Philip Walsh
         On the other hand29/03/10 00:26:00 Stephen Pett
         On the other hand29/03/10 00:27:00 Stephen Pett
            Re:On the other hand29/03/10 00:51:00 Philip Walsh
               Re:Re:On the other hand29/03/10 08:31:00 Maggie Dodge
                  Re:Re:Re:On the other hand29/03/10 13:30:00 Brian Coyle
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:On the other hand29/03/10 16:22:00 Humph Barrington
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/06/10 16:15:00 Andrew Dunham
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY05/06/10 18:51:00 Alison Claire Lucy Walter
         Con Lady - Back ... AGAIN!30/12/12 10:47:00 Catherine Tucker
            Re:Con Lady - Back ... AGAIN!30/12/12 12:44:00 Nick Jenkins
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY30/12/12 12:25:00 Judith Forrest
      :CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 15:03:00 Jim Lawes
         Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 15:15:00 A Knight
            Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 15:56:00 Cindy Carloss
               Re:Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 16:20:00 A Knight
                  Re:Re:Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 16:40:00 Cindy Carloss
                  Re:Re:Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 16:40:00 Chris Andrews
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 19:51:00 Jim Lawes
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re::CHISWICK CON LADY (also con motorcyclist)30/12/12 23:12:00 Dave Jervis
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY31/12/12 09:58:00 Rachel Dwyer
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY31/12/12 10:48:00 Andrew Jones
         Re:Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY03/01/13 00:10:00 Pete Mayes
   Re:CHISWICK CON LADY31/12/12 16:02:00 Emily Smith
      Re:Re:CHISWICK CON LADY31/12/12 16:06:00 Emily Smith

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