Under PACE 1984, section 24(3) for a past offence, which individuals may be arrested without warrant?

Under PACE 1984, section 24(3) for a past offence, which individuals may be arrested without warrant?

• A. Anyone who is guilty of the offence
• B. Anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it
• C. Anyone who is guilty or anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it
• D. Anyone who has reasonable grounds to suspect a future offence

Answer: (C)

The key idea is the power to arrest without a warrant under PACE 1984 when dealing with a past offence. For a past offence, the officer can arrest someone if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have committed the offence, or if there is actual evidence that they are guilty of it. This means the arrest power isn’t limited to people who are already known to be guilty, but also covers those whom the officer reasonably suspects have committed it. Arresting someone just because they might commit a future offence isn’t covered by this provision, and arresting someone solely on actual guilt (without any need for suspicion) isn’t the framework described here—the police operate on reasonable grounds to suspect or proof of guilt in the moment of arrest. So the correct concept is that a person may be arrested without a warrant if they are guilty or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have committed the past offence.

The key idea is the power to arrest without a warrant under PACE 1984 when dealing with a past offence. For a past offence, the officer can arrest someone if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have committed the offence, or if there is actual evidence that they are guilty of it. This means the arrest power isn’t limited to people who are already known to be guilty, but also covers those whom the officer reasonably suspects have committed it.

Arresting someone just because they might commit a future offence isn’t covered by this provision, and arresting someone solely on actual guilt (without any need for suspicion) isn’t the framework described here—the police operate on reasonable grounds to suspect or proof of guilt in the moment of arrest.

So the correct concept is that a person may be arrested without a warrant if they are guilty or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have committed the past offence.