Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 December 2000. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 December 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers a constable in England and Wales has to arrest, without warrant, a person on the grounds that he is about to commit a criminal offence; and in respect of which criminal offences such powers exist.

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers a constable in England and Wales has to arrest, without warrant, a person on the grounds that he is about to commit a criminal offence; and in respect of which criminal offences such powers exist. [143016] Mr. Charles Clarke: Under section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) a constable in England and Wales has the power to arrest, without warrant, a person whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be about to commit an arrestable offence. Arrestable offences are defined in sub-sections 24 (1) and (2) of PACE. I am aware that there may be other offences outside the PACE definition which attract the relevant power and I will write to the hon. Member once that aspect has been researched.

Secondary information