1. Police Powers in Great Britain

2. Contents 1. Historical development of the police force
2. Main police powers

3. Historical development
Until the early 1800s most crime was combated by local constables with the help of the occasional citizen patrol
As cities became more crowded, individual companies organized police forces to protect their interests
The Thames River Police was created by West India Trading Company in 1798

4. The Thames River Police
80 full-time men
Patrolled the London port
The private police force so effective that Parliament authorized money to add men to their patrol

5. Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel ( ), a Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from and again from
Created the first professional police force in 1829
Peel sponsored the Metropolitan Police Act which was passed by Parliament
The men on patrol became known as “peelers” or “bobbies”

6. Bobbies
The first thousand of Peel’s police began to patrol the streets of London on September 29, 1829
Blue tail-coats and top hats to look more like ordinary citizens
Requirements: 6 ft tall and no history of wrong-doings

7. Work conditions
Victorian police worked seven days a week, with five days unpaid holiday
Salary of £1 per week
Not allowed to vote in elections
Required permission to get married
Required to wear their uniform both on and off duty

8. Peel’s vision
The police force should operate from a centrally located headquarters accessible to the public
Recruitment, selection and training
Proper uniforms
Weekly wage
Familiar figures to the public
Friendly image

9. Responsibility
Police responsible for crime detection and prevention by the establishment of regular patrol areas known as “beats”
By becoming familiar with the people and places on his beat, the bobby could recognize suspicious things out of place and deter crime
The patrol concept would be universally adopted by police forces around the world

10. Main police powers
Arrest
Search
Entry
Seizure
Detention

11. Arrest
The police can arrest persons suspected of having committed an offence with or without a warrant issued by a court
For serious offences (“arrestable offences”) a suspect can be arrested without a warrant
General arrest power (to prevent injury or damage)

12. Search The official examining of a person or a place
A police officer has the power to stop and search people and vehicles if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that stolen goods or weapons will be found
The officer must state and record the grounds for taking this action
Regulated by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994
An unlawful search constitutes assault

13. Entry
The right of the police to enter private property to find the wrongdoer
The police can enter premises to make an arrest and search them to find their suspect
Unlawful entry constitutes the tort of trespass

14. Seizure
The instance of taking possession of somebody’s property by the authority
When a lawful arrest is made, the police can seize articles and documents that could be used in evidence against the suspect
The police can take any weapon or article that the suspect could use to harm himself or others

15. Detention An arrested person must be taken to a police station
The suspect has a right to speak to an independent solicitor free of charge
A suspect may refuse to answer police questions (”the right to silence”) according to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994
For lesser offences, a suspect can be held in police custody for 24 hours
For serious offences up to 96 hours without charge

16. The law related to police powers
Important from the political standpoint (police interference with the freedom of the individual)
Important from the legal standpoint (issues of civil and criminal liability depend on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of the use of these powers)