Criminology

Probable cause the standard by which a police officer has the authority to make an arrest

Police officers are warranted employees of a police force they can also be referred to as policemen or policewomen and sometimes referred as constables particularly in Australia. Police officers are generally charged with the apprehension of wrong doers, maintenance of public order, and the prevention and detection of crime in a given society. Police officers are always sworn to an oath, and granted with powers to arrest and imprison suspects. Even though they are trained on different areas such as, surveillance, counter-terrorism, child protection, VIP protection, and investigation techniques into key crimes, including murder, fraud, rape, and drug trafficking, they more or less serve the same purpose of maintaining law and order in the society.

When can a Police Officer make an Arrest
Depending on the type of crime committed, a police officer has a right to stop, search and seizure anybody without even having a search warrant. The extent of search carried out by the officers depends on the type of crime committed. For instance, a person suspected of carrying a dangerous weapon such as a gun, will be searched differently compared to a person who deals with drugs, alcohol, carrying excess cash and suspect carrying a stolen property.

According to, police officers must always observe certain conditions before they can execute their powers to arrest. He argued that even though they have powers to arrest it is in order to take the suspect to a private place before the search is carried out. He further clarified that gender sensitivity must be observed and that the search should be carried out by a member of the same sex to enhance privacy in their duties. However, police officers do not have the power to take palm prints, fingerprints or carry out an experiments such as a blood sample test, unless the suspect have been arrested and detained. This is a limitation to their authority.

It is important for police officers to observe the legal framework concerning their duties by ensuring that prescribed ethics and conditions are met before they carry out their duties. An officer must always be in a smart uniform unless the kind of duty to be carried out require a plain clothed officer such as when dealing with dangerous criminals.

In cases to do with arrest of criminals, officers are required to have a warrant of arrest. However, they also have power to arrest when a criminal is found in the act of committing a crime, accused by a credible witness or seen committing a crime, running away from the scene of crime, posing threat to the general public and causing an offence to public decency. A police officer also has the power to arrest devoid of a warrant under a range of statutes, for instance, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000.

Conclusion
Police officers therefore are limited to their powers and depending of the type of crime committed, suspect have a right to complain if the aspect of police behavior is not up to the required standards such as demanding for a bribe, beating the suspect or shooting before observing the stipulated procedures or laws. Even though police officers have the powers to seizure, proper evidence or proof must be checked to avoid arresting an innocent fellow by the officers.