WHEN CAN YOU MAKE A LAWFUL CITIZEN’S ARREST? - Community Legal Education

WHEN CAN YOU MAKE A LAWFUL CITIZEN’S ARREST? A short guide.

Find out
- the 4 tests to be met for a lawful citizen’s arrest?
- whether you can use force?
- what you need to tell the arrested person?
- what happens when a citizen’s arrest is unlawful?

SUBSCRIBE | SHARE| DONATE

Part of the Neighbourhood Watch and You Series. Please watch other short video explainers in the series and many more.

Community Legal Education is about informing people about their Legal Rights and Responsibilities.

Our explainer videos aim to make the law easy to understand and by provide general legal advice.

Community Legal Education is run voluntarily.

[AlexBell]

I use to work in a supermarket and made a citizen arrest when I saw a woman hiding a bottle of vodka in her jacket and wrapped in tin foil. This happened as I was coming out of the warehouse after taking some rubbish to the back.

I saw her, approached her calmly and asked what she was doing, she tried to run but I already got hold of her arm. Escorted her to the security room and was flagging for my supervisor to come with me. Police arrived within 20 minutes and was arrested for theft.

This happened many years ago, could I have done anything different back then?

[SuperExcuse]

I have arrested almost 15 people and I was successful to bring them to justice 😢❤

[keikoandgilly]

What if someone pulled the emergency break on the train simply for missing their stop, and the police was not there to confront them?

[ceesmith]

Test 2 seems to fail for shoplifters. Can anyone clarify?

[hayatesmer]

You can only arrest someone you suspect of having committed (i.e. in the past) an offence if that offence actually did take place. If you were mistaken about it having been committed at all - rather than about your man having been the one who committed it - your citizen's arrest will be unlawful! (s. 24A(2))

[clairefoster]

And what are citizens to do when it's the police force that are committing an offence by breaking their oath and enforcing tyrannical government

[MusicalAddictionOnlineLessons]

Dangerous driving covers ignoring traffic lights, road signs or warnings from passengers, overtaking dangerously, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, including prescription drugs, driving when unfit, including having an injury, being unable to see clearly, not taking prescribed drugs, or being sleepy.

Citizens arrest could become a full time job in the UK 😅

[michaelbarbsa]

Can you do this to the stop oil protesters

[oofieodyssey]

I'm seeing a lot of inconsistencies from information in the video, and the information you're typing in the comments.

[odst_stone]

What if it's a drug dealer loitering around the neighbourhood?

[jasonsnipveron]

One thing I’ve always wondered is can you get a reward for making a successful citizens arrest here in the uk? 🤠🐴🚂

[epicbro]

If a classmate was repeatedly hitting another student, can I make a citizen's arrest if the teachers are not doing enough to stop them?

[Pingu_]

You would get sued by the criminal these days

[kevinlewis]

Can you perform a citizens arrest of a protester sitting in a road

[cheshirecat]

I was randomly assaulted by a man in my area i now know to be a drug dealer. There is an ongoing police case but they havent found him or his name. If I see him in my area, can i make a citizens arrest if i call the police and he tries to flee?

[fibromyalgia]

We going to have to now the police arnt doing their job and Keir Starmerlien let all the crinimals out... Why the fook am i paying for this lot

[craigfowler]

Leave it to the professionals - the police. Lol.

After watching lots of auditors recently, not sure they qualify.

[kevcatnip]

Hi just confused, ,Are the people who hunt down sex offenders committing a crime ?? Keep seeing vids of horrible guys confronting men, ,But no evidence shown of why., , Then laughing at the guy when he breaks down//ALL THE BEST