Crimes Act 1961

Matters of justification or excuse - Arrest

38: Arrest during flight

You could also call this:

“You can catch someone running away if you think they broke the law, even if you're not sure.”

You are protected from criminal responsibility if you arrest someone without a warrant under certain conditions. This applies when you believe, with good reason, that the person has committed a crime against this Act and is trying to escape. You must also believe that someone with the legal power to arrest is chasing after them.

This protection applies even if the crime didn’t actually happen, or if the person you arrested didn’t commit it. The important thing is that you had good reasons for your beliefs at the time.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328253.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Crime and justice > Police and safety

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37: Arrest after commission of certain crimes, or

“You can arrest someone without permission if you think they did something against the law.”


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39: Force used in executing process or in arrest, or

“Explaining when people can use force to carry out legal duties or make arrests”

Part 3 Matters of justification or excuse
Arrest

38Arrest during flight

  1. Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting without warrant any person whom he or she believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to have committed an offence against this Act, and to be escaping from and to be freshly pursued by any one whom he or she believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to have lawful authority to arrest that person for the offence.

  2. This section shall apply whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 58