Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984: the central piece of legislation that governs the powers of the police in relation to citizens. PACE outlines the circumstances in which officers can stop and search people, search premises, seize evidence, enter premises, effect arrests and detain suspects. PACE also governs the rights of suspects, including the circumstances in which they are remanded or bailed, and the interview process.

Arrest: there are various common law and statute provisions determining the circumstances in which a person can be arrested. Essentially these fall into two categories: those conducted under the terms of a court warrant and those carried out without warrant. The former applies to circumstances in which it is necessary to enforce an individual to be brought to court in connection with a suspected offence that has already been committed. Arrests without warrant can be implemented in a wide-variety of circumstances, some of which rely upon specific legal measures that give police officers particular powers in identified circumstances. For example, public order legislation gives constables power to arrest those wearing political uniforms. Other powers are more generally defined, such that an officer can arrest in relation to ‘serious arrestable offences’. More generally yet, citizens and police officers can arrest in the case of an actual or anticipated breach of the peace. Upon arrest an individual is told the grounds on which they are detained and cautioned. They must be taken to a designated police station as soon as is practicable.