CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ACT 2006 - SECT 128

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ACT 2006 - SECT 128

128 .         Arrest power for offences

        (1)         In this section —

        serious offence means an offence —

            (a)         the statutory penalty for which is or includes imprisonment for 5 years or more or life; or

            (b)         under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 61(1), (1A) or (2a); or

            (c)         that involves family violence as defined in the Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 5A(2)(a), (b), (e) or (j) or a threat to enact that violence; or

            (d)         under section 38C(2).

        (2)         A police officer or a public officer may arrest a person for a serious offence if the officer reasonably suspects that the person has committed, is committing, or is just about to commit, the offence.

        (3)         A police officer or a public officer may arrest a person for an offence that is not a serious offence if the officer reasonably suspects —

            (a)         that the person has committed, is committing, or is just about to commit, the offence; and

            (b)         that if the person is not arrested —

                  (i)         it will not be possible, in accordance with law, to obtain and verify the person’s name and other personal details; or

                  (ii)         the person will continue or repeat the offence; or

                  (iii)         the person will commit another offence; or

                  (iv)         the person will endanger another person’s safety or property; or

                  (v)         the person will interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice; or

                  (vi)         the person will conceal or disturb a thing relevant to the offence; or

                  (vii)         the person’s safety will be endangered.

        [Section 128 amended: No. 32 of 2011 s. 17; No. 56 of 2012 s. 8; No. 49 of 2016 s. 102; No. 8 of 2023 s. 4.]