Legislation
Tackling crime and reassuring the public Consultation on police powers
Proposals for tough new police powers to help officers tackle crime and improve community safety
have been set out in a consultation launched by Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears.
Title: Tackling crime and reassuring the public - Consultation on police
powers
Author: Home Office
Date published: August 2004
Number of pages: 2
The proposals are part of the Government's ongoing work on police reform and include strengthening officers' arrest powers, improving the use of warrants, giving community support officers more powers, making better use of forensics and improving officers' ability to drug-test suspects. They are part of a package of measures to help ensure the police can effectively tackle crime and address the issues which are of most concern to the public.
The proposals include:
Arrest concept of seriousness - Providing the police with the power of arrest for all offences.
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Raising the capacity of search warrants - Increasing the ability of police officers to apply for and execute warrants issued by the courts enabling multiple use and targeting of offenders with multiple addresses.
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Workforce Modernisation - Releasing police officers for front-line duties by giving police staff greater powers, e.g. to deal with traffic, enforce bylaws and tackle begging.
Increasing Prevention and Detection Powers - For:
- Drug related offences - Powers to drug-test suspects for certain 'trigger' offences on arrest (rather than charge).
- Road/ Drivers Offences - Create a new offence of using or keeping an incorrectly registered vehicle.
- Nuisance of fireworks - New stop and search procedures.
- Protests outside homes - A new offence of harassment.
- Protests outside parliament - Introduction of new legislation.
Identification - Improving the use of forensic material, for example by allowing roadside fingerprinting and extending powers to take DNA samples and footwear impressions.
Limiting Chief Constables' personal liability under health and safety law.
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