Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Help about what version

What Version

Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Status:

Point in time view as at 18/07/2021. This version of this provision has been superseded. Help about Status

Close

Status

You are viewing this legislation item as it stood at a particular point in time. A later version of this or provision, including subsequent changes and effects, supersedes this version.

Note the term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.

Changes to legislation:

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Section 24 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

[F124 Arrest without warrant: constablesE+W

(1)A constable may arrest without a warrant—

(a)anyone who is about to commit an offence;

(b)anyone who is in the act of committing an offence;

(c)anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be about to commit an offence;

(d)anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing an offence.

(2)If a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence has been committed, he may arrest without a warrant anyone whom he has reasonable grounds to suspect of being guilty of it.

(3)If an offence has been committed, a constable may arrest without a warrant—

(a)anyone who is guilty of the offence;

(b)anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it.

(4)But the power of summary arrest conferred by subsection (1), (2) or (3) is exercisable only if the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that for any of the reasons mentioned in subsection (5) it is necessary to arrest the person in question.

(5)The reasons are—

(a)to enable the name of the person in question to be ascertained (in the case where the constable does not know, and cannot readily ascertain, the person's name, or has reasonable grounds for doubting whether a name given by the person as his name is his real name);

(b)correspondingly as regards the person's address;

(c)to prevent the person in question—

(i)causing physical injury to himself or any other person;

(ii)suffering physical injury;

(iii)causing loss of or damage to property;

(iv)committing an offence against public decency (subject to subsection (6)); or

(v)causing an unlawful obstruction of the highway;

(d)to protect a child or other vulnerable person from the person in question;

(e)to allow the prompt and effective investigation of the offence or of the conduct of the person in question;

(f)to prevent any prosecution for the offence from being hindered by the disappearance of the person in question.

(6)Subsection (5)(c)(iv) applies only where members of the public going about their normal business cannot reasonably be expected to avoid the person in question.]

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (E.) (26.3.2020 at 1.00 p.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/350), regs. 1, 9(7) (with reg. 12)

C2S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (W.) (26.3.2020 at 4.00 p.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/353), regs. 1(1), 12(5) (with regs. 3, 15)

C3S. 24 extended (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, art. 6, Sch. 3 para. 2(4).

C5S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (W.) (8.6.2020 at 12:01 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/574), regs. 1(2), 14(7) (with reg. 20)

C9S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (E.) (4.7.2020 at 00.01 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/684), regs. 1(2)(b), 8(7) (with reg. 11)

C10S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (W.) (11.7.2020 for specified purposes, 13.7.2020 in so far as not already in force) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/725), regs. 1(3)(4), 20(5) (with reg. 5)

C17S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (E.) (29.8.2020) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Greencore) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/921), regs. 1(2), 7(4) (with reg. 11)

C18S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (E.) (10.9.2020 at 6.00 p.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Bolton) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/974), regs. 1(1), 9(7) (with reg. 12)

C22S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (W.) (18.9.2020 at 12.01 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Functions of Local Authorities etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1011), regs. 1(3), 18(5) (with reg. 3) (as amended (25.11.2021) by S.I. 2021/1304, regs. 1(2), 3)

C28S. 24 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (W.) (23.10.2020 at 6.00 p.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1149), regs. 1(3), 29(6) (with reg. 2)

C44S. 24(2) modified (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 16, s. 47(3); S.I. 2001/2223, art. 4(c)

C45S. 24(2) applied by S.I. 1990/1768, art. 8(10) (as replaced by S.I. 1990/2144, art. 3)

S. 24(2) extended (15.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/975, art. 16(13).

S. 24(2) extended (5.6.1992) by S.I. 1992/1302, art. 17(13).

s. 24(2) extended (1.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1188, art. 16(11).

S. 24(2) extended (24.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1244, art. 22(13).

S. 24(2) extended (22.7.1993) by S.I. 1993/1784, art. 13(12).

S. 24(2) extended (22.7.1993) by S.I. 1993/1787, art. 10(12).

S. 24(2) extended (1.10.1993) by S.I. 1993/2355, art. 12(12).

S. 24(2) extended (1.12.1993) by S.I. 1993/2807, art. 19(12)

S. 24(2) applied (23.5.1994) by 1994/1323, art. 17(12)

S. 24(2) applied (19.10.1994) by S.I. 1994/2673, art. 13(12)

S. 24(2) applied (7.2.1995) by S.I. 1995/271, art. 11(4)

S. 24(2) applied (15.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2721, art. 11(4)

S. 24(2) extended (1.11.1997) by S.I. 1997/2592, art. 12(12)

S. 24(2) applied (with modifications) (15.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1531, art. 4(2).

S. 24(2) extended (3.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1516, art. 9(9)

S. 24(2) extended (14.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2821, art. 4(2)

S. 24(2) extended (14.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2822, art. 4(2)

S. 24(2) extended (26.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/3133, art. 8(12)

S. 24(2) applied (16.6.2000) by S.I. 2000/1556, art. 17(12)

S. 24(2) applied (28.9.2000) by S.I. 2000/2620, reg. 11(5)

S. 24(2) applied (25.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1408, reg. 3

S. 24(2) extended (16.2.2001) by S.I. 2001/396, art. 25(13)

S. 24(2) applied (10.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3365, art. 10(10) (subject to art. 1(2))

C46S. 24(2) applied (with modifications) (25.1.2002) by The Al-Qa'ida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/111), art. 20(13)

S. 24(2) applied (with modifications) (31.3.2002) by The Zimbabwe (Sale, Supply, Export and Shipment of Equipment) (Penalties and Licences) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/ 868), {reg. 4(2)}

S. 24(2) applied (with modifications) (24.10.2002) by The Somalia (United Nations Sanctions) Order (S.I. 2002/2628), {art. 16(12)}

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources

The data on this page is available in the alternative data formats listed: