Is a single police officer legally allowed to arrest a woman who is alone?

[impossible]

Does anyone know if a single police officer is allowed to arrest a woman who is alone and put her in a vehicle? Or for that matter is it legal for a single officer to arrest a male and confine him?

I'm thinking about what happened to Sarah Everard and wondering what the rules are. I think it's important that we all know in case something like that that situation happens again. Certainly I would like to be able to tell my dcs their rights.

Arg! Again, better to get a slap on the wrist for shouting in the street then to be raped, murdered, and burned.

Just to add a little balance here, I know lots of Police Officers who are decent, hardworking and dedicated to making our society a better place. They are horrified by this crime.

@RoseRedRoseBlue

Just to add a little balance here, I know lots of Police Officers who are decent, hardworking and dedicated to making our society a better place. They are horrified by this crime.

So?

Really shocked at how many women would rather let a single male police officer handcuff them for no reason instead of screaming like hell. Who cares about the charge you might get, which would probably get thrown out anyway as is reasonable given the circumstances. Plus there is a BIG difference between making other people aware of your presence and fighting a police officer.

@Pumperthepumper so nothing. I just think that there is some serious generalisation on this thread, along with some very poor advice.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@Pumperthepumper so nothing. I just think that there is some serious generalisation on this thread, along with some very poor advice.[/quote]
The police allows violence to thrive. It allows misogyny to thrive. The entire police system needs a massive overhaul. Regardless of how many good police officers you know. The system is broken.

I agree it needs an overhaul, but I am yet to see any constructive and workable suggestion. Posts like these condemning the entire operation and every single Officer are not conducive to reform.

@Doris86

Whilst a dreadful case, let’s put this in perspective. When was the last time you heard of a rogue police officer arresting and then murdering someone? Even if rules were in place to stop police men arresting women alone, is that going to stop someone intent on murder?

I would imagine the best people to get away with murder are in fact police officers. They have access to unimaginable amounts of data. They can legitimately ask questions about anything really. In the moment would any of us question them asking for example is anyone home/due home. And all sorts of other seemingly benign questions that in other situations would set our radar off but with police who we are taught to trust from childhood 🤷‍♀️

@impossible

Does anyone know if a single police officer is allowed to arrest a woman who is alone and put her in a vehicle? Or for that matter is it legal for a single officer to arrest a male and confine him?

I'm thinking about what happened to Sarah Everard and wondering what the rules are. I think it's important that we all know in case something like that that situation happens again. Certainly I would like to be able to tell my dcs their rights.

I don’t think it should be allowed

@RoseRedRoseBlue

I agree it needs an overhaul, but I am yet to see any constructive and workable suggestion. Posts like these condemning the entire operation and every single Officer are not conducive to reform.

They are though. I’ve got some suggestions, the main one being any hint of any wrongdoing by any police officer and the should be sacked. Violent porn, speeding, drunk and disorderly, punched someone once, they’re out. We should hold our police to much, much higher standards because they have an incredible amount of power and they’ve proved time and time again they’re happy to exploit it, or turn a blind eye to those who do.

I was pondering this today.

I'm a law abiding woman who probably would be so stunned at being 'in trouble' I would have gone along with it...

But now? No.

I think it's the same as the advice to continue driving if scared to pull over when asked. Whether it's an urban myth or not I've heard of the advice to out your hazards on and slow down to make it obvious you're not ignoring, but to keep driving to a well lit or busy place if worried.

If I was alone and approached by a lone male officer, I would absolutely ask for there to be a female officer or others present and if this seemed to be dismissed I'd start kicking off. I'm v happy to weather the storm of resisting in the context of fear of being alone with a lone male.

Sad thing is, as a middle class, middle aged woman, I expect my defence may be likely to be met with a sympathy that wouldn't be extended to more marginalised women. And that stinks.

What a totally ridiculous OP What about the safety of police or don’t they count?

@Pumperthepumper if that’s your criteria for suitability, we won’t have any Police. We draw our Police from the society we live in, so perhaps that’s the first port of call for change.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@Pumperthepumper if that’s your criteria for suitability, we won’t have any Police. We draw our Police from the society we live in, so perhaps that’s the first port of call for change.[/quote]
How do you mean?

@LidlMiddleLover

What a totally ridiculous OP What about the safety of police or don’t they count?

Have you seen the news today?

@RoseRedRoseBlue

Just to add a little balance here, I know lots of Police Officers who are decent, hardworking and dedicated to making our society a better place. They are horrified by this crime.

So what?

@LidlMiddleLover

What a totally ridiculous OP What about the safety of police or don’t they count?

What about the safety of police, what does that have to do with the OP?

@Pumperthepumper you have stated above that even speeding should result in a Police Officer being “out”. You will be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t fallen foul of one of the items on your list.

@RoseRedRoseBlue

I agree it needs an overhaul, but I am yet to see any constructive and workable suggestion. Posts like these condemning the entire operation and every single Officer are not conducive to reform.

You know we here dont actually run the country right? Aside from being the ignored sex I'm not sure what you think we can do. On the other hand we employ others who's actual job it is to fix stuff like this. We can vote for the party that recognises women and the issues like this, if there ever is one.

And add a charge of resisting arrest? Seriously not a good idea.

In a real life situation, you'll know if your being arrested on reasonable grounds or not. If a random man comes and cuffs you and makes up a reason, yes, you should scream. I think that's good advice.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@Pumperthepumper you have stated above that even speeding should result in a Police Officer being “out”. You will be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t fallen foul of one of the items on your list.[/quote]
Well, I haven’t. Have you? And I’ve got much less responsibility than the met police.

These nice policemen you know - have they done any of those things?

@LidlMiddleLover

What a totally ridiculous OP What about the safety of police or don’t they count?

I think the safety of police would also be shored up by rules to prevent single males having to arrest sole females. More transparency and accountability is good for everyone.

@Mybalconyiscracking

I have told my girls to scream the place down if a single officer ever tries to put them into a car for anything. I would do the same and deal with any consequences later. That poor, poor woman., such a massive betrayal of trust. I hope they lock him up and throw away the key!

Would screaming actually do anything, though? If members of the public saw an officer trying to arrest someone, and that person screaming the place down, I assume the majority aren't going to get involved?

I hope he gets a whole life sentence. He used his position to commit a horrendous crime.

@Pumperthepumper you must be one of a tiny minority then if you don’t even know someone that speeds, or has done at some point in their life. As for the the future, I have long been of the view that we as the public need to decide what we want from the Police. Do we want a service, or a force? Just days ago, there were posts on here advocating for Officers to water cannon protesters, and physically drag them from motorways. This view extended to female protestors. Now the pendulum has swung the other way and there is suggestion that male Officers shouldn’t even arrest females. Let’s have some perspective here.

@mustlovegin

At the very least you would know if you are doing something that would merit being arrested.

A random person approaching you and trying to arrest you while you are not committing any offence is not a common occurrence at all I would think

It's not like one would be arrested often or at risk to be arrested by a fake officer often?

Yes exactly. Being arrested by a uniformed officer when you know you've done something = no reason to resist

A random plain clothed man cuffing you? Very scary, and Sarah would've known she'd not done anything wrong. Very different.

I couldn't give a heck about resisting arrest. Scream and kick up a fuss because if a kidnapper takes you away, especially if you're restrained, your chances of survival plummet.

She must've been confused and terrified, but if you feel something is off, an additional minor charge is really the least of your worries