Police Powers?
Discussion
How far does a police officer's powers extend when off duty and out of uniform? I was in a pub with a group of friends having a bit of a leary night (nothing particularly offensive, just elaborating jokes and stories with the F word) when an off duty Special showed his warrant card and told me if i used any more foul language he would arrest me under section 5 of the public order act! Could he have done?
p.s. I realise than any citizen has powers of arrest if they witness or suspect an arrestable offence to have taken place. However does an off duty BiB (special or full time) have any more powers than this?
p.s. I realise than any citizen has powers of arrest if they witness or suspect an arrestable offence to have taken place. However does an off duty BiB (special or full time) have any more powers than this?
right off. 
MilnerR said:
How far does a police officer's powers extend when off duty and out of uniform? I was in a pub with a group of friends having a bit of a leary night (nothing particularly offensive, just elaborating jokes and stories with the F word) when an off duty Special showed his warrant card and told me if i used any more foul language he would arrest me under section 5 of the public order act! Could he have done?
Yup.
MilnerR said:
p.s. I realise than any citizen has powers of arrest if they witness or suspect an arrestable offence to have taken place. However does an off duty BiB (special or full time) have any more powers than this?
Plod doesn't have to be 'on duty' to exercise police powers - as long as they positively identify themselves as Plod (Special or otherwise) by, for example, showing his warrant card; then that'll do.
Shows poor judgement by the Plod though - you plus a load of mates plus a few beers against him with no ptwangy stick or PR to call his mates...sounds to me as though if you'd had a mind to, his evening out could have been spent in the local A&E having had his face adjusted...
we kept asking him to repeat himself as we hadn't heard him properly:
"sorry mate, whats that? You want to have sex in public?"
"You want to feel by breasts with what?"
I know he was acting like a tosser (and was treated as such). We're an easy going group of lads so he was never in danger of being slapped. Probably just got his warrant card and decided to gain peoples "respect" by excercising it.
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 8th October 16:28
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 8th October 16:30
"sorry mate, whats that? You want to have sex in public?"
"You want to feel by breasts with what?"
I know he was acting like a tosser (and was treated as such). We're an easy going group of lads so he was never in danger of being slapped. Probably just got his warrant card and decided to gain peoples "respect" by excercising it.
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 8th October 16:28
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 8th October 16:30
AFAIK, the only difference between general public and the Bib for arrest powers is that the Bib can additionally arrest on suspicion of committing a particular offence, whereas the rest of us can only arrest for the actual offence.
could one of the Bib tell us which category 'specials' come into in this area?
could one of the Bib tell us which category 'specials' come into in this area?
Yes, not the best example of common sense by the Special. If it's of any interest a Special has the same powers as a Regular officer, in his/her own force area and adjoining force areas. If the Special is a City of London Police Officer the powers extend the the forces adjoining the Metropolitan Police. The only exception is if the Special is on Mutual Aid to another force, which could be anywhere in the UK, in which case the full powers will apply.
stackmonkey said:
AFAIK, the only difference between general public and the Bib for arrest powers is that the Bib can additionally arrest on suspicion of committing a particular offence, whereas the rest of us can only arrest for the actual offence.
could one of the Bib tell us which category 'specials' come into in this area?
Specials have all the powers of regular Police (on and off duty) in the Police Force in which they are a special and those forces which adjoin that force. No where else. A special in TVP will have no powers in West Yorkhire other than those of a citizen.
Police have extra powers over citizens.
Some powers relate to the fact they must be in uniform when they arrest. Some are conditional powers that mean they must be Police Officers especially under PACE.
Police can arrest someone whom they think has committed a crime when a crime has happened. Citizens cannot. Citizens must know they have committed a crime.
Police can arrest someone they think may have committed a crime, even when a crime has not bee committed. Citizens cannot!
That is the difference (in a nutshel)
MilnerR said:
we kept asking him to repeat himself as we hadn't heard him properly:
"sorry mate, whats that? You want to have sex in public?"
"You want to feel by breasts with what?"
MilnerR said:
I know he was acting like a tosser (and was treated as such). We're an easy going group of lads so he was never in danger of being slapped.
Sorry if I hinted you'd have clumped a Plod, tosser or not - didn't mean it like that - just meant that he didn't know you were an easy going bunch and he could easily have bitten off more than he could chew...
Had the same experience at cricket once. Went to Lords for a day out with my mates, got a bit drunk and werent being in anyway offensive or rude, people around us were laughing and joining in some chants we made up to liven up the day. All going well then a mate knocked a glass over and this bloke from 6 rows back jumps up and whips out a badge, threatening all sorts if we didnt leave instantly.
In the end we just got up and left, werent worth the hassle. Dont like cricket anyway.
In the end we just got up and left, werent worth the hassle. Dont like cricket anyway.
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