UK Expands Police Powers

Free-Market News
Jan. 04, 2006

Police in the United Kingdom have now been authorized to arrest anyone at any time for any reason, according to the UK Telegraph. The new law, which took effect on January 1st, is being criticized for unleashing police powers without any restraint that will threaten the civil rights of all UK citizens.

Before the law changes, police were able to arrest suspects only if the police had reason to believe that the suspects were going to commit a crime punishable by at least five years of jail. Those restrictions have been dropped such that police can now arrest and detain anyone that they think might commit any type of crime. Police will still have to file a report explaining why they thought arresting someone was necessary.

The Home Office argues that an increase of police powers was needed in order to simplify the legal code, fight crime, and prevent terrorism. A civil liberties organization called Liberty has been actively resisting the change and is warning that a dramatic shift towards a police state will occur if measures aren’t taken that prevent abuse.