Power of arrest


The power of arrest is a mandate given by a central authority that allows an individual to remove a criminal's liberty. The power of arrest can also be used to protect a person, or persons from harm or to protect damage to property.
However, in many countries, a person also has powers of arrest under citizen's arrest or any person arrest / breach of the peace arrest powers.

Individuals with powers of arrest

Originally, powers of arrest were confined to sheriffs in England for a local area. Over the past few hundred years, the legal power of arrest has gradually expanded to include a large number of people/officials, the majority of which have come to the fore more recently. These various individuals all may utilise similar or different powers of arrest, but generally adhere to one particular field.
The individuals below have been listed in order of when the power of arrest became available to the individual, starting from the earliest.

United Kingdom

England & Wales

The following individuals all have various powers of arrest or detention within England & Wales in various capacities using the following legislation/law:
Police Constables
National Crime Agency officer
Police Community Support Officers
Members of public
Immigration Officer
HMRC Criminal Investigation Officers
Service Police
Prison officers
Church Warden
HMP Prison Officer
Court bailiff
Court officer
Court security officer
Sheriff
Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons

"Officer or agent"
Epping Forest Keepers
Environment Agency officer
Water bailiff
IPCC investigators
In the United States, various law enforcement officers are able to legally arrest people. Due to the complexity of the American civil legal system, including the interactions between federal, state, county, and local jurisdictions, there are numerous special cases that apply, depending on the reason for the arrest.