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.

@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.

While this is true, we are discussing a horrific crime committed by a police officer who used his powers to commit a dreadful crime. It's like the not all men argument- nobody at all is suggesting that all police officers would do anything like this, and it's not helpful to say. This has massively impacted trust in the police as an institution. Which is probably unfair.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@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.[/quote]
No, I said I hadn’t ever speeded (sped?) and asked if the good officers you know did. You haven’t answered?

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

I think this is the crux of the matter. Of course lone officers can arrest people and of course there are some bad police officers, just like there are pedophile teachers and corrupt politicians but situations like the horrific case we are discussing are extremely rare. The arresting officer is much more likely to call for assistance if alone as they don't want to be assaulted themselves or accused of doing something wrong without a witness. I don't think we need to teach our DDs to "scream the place down" or "call 999 to check" if approached by a male with a warrant card. I hope my DD will take appropriate precautions to maintain her safety in all circumstances and remember that the majority of her interactions with the police will be positive and non confrontational.

While this is true, we are discussing a horrific crime committed by a police officer who used his powers to commit a dreadful crime. It's like the not all men argument- nobody at all is suggesting that all police officers would do anything like this, and it's not helpful to say. This has massively impacted trust in the police as an institution. Which is probably unfair.

Its not unfair though - his colleagues knew. His nickname was ‘the rapist’, they knew he’d indecently exposed himself. Why would anyone trust the met knowing their standards for their colleagues are this low?

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

Rather such a charge than being murdered. I'm going to be teaching my daughter to scream her head off if an uninformed man alone tries to "arrest" her for any reason.

@Pumperthepumper, you are splitting hairs and you know it. You have also dodged every other ‘inconvenient’ point in my last post. For clarity, given I am not privy to the driving record of every Officer I know, I can’t really comment.

@Pumperthepumper

While this is true, we are discussing a horrific crime committed by a police officer who used his powers to commit a dreadful crime. It's like the not all men argument- nobody at all is suggesting that all police officers would do anything like this, and it's not helpful to say. This has massively impacted trust in the police as an institution. Which is probably unfair.

Its not unfair though - his colleagues knew. His nickname was ‘the rapist’, they knew he’d indecently exposed himself. Why would anyone trust the met knowing their standards for their colleagues are this low?

Yikes- I think I didn't know, or had forgotten that detail. Definitely not unfair, then.

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?

He may think twice if there are numerous witnesses brought to the scene hearing screams. Better than nothing.

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

I think possibly a few people would hear the screaming and start filming, wether to hopefully splash all over social media for likes or for another reason wouldn't matter. The fact he could be being filmed would more than likely put him off.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@Pumperthepumper, you are splitting hairs and you know it. You have also dodged every other ‘inconvenient’ point in my last post. For clarity, given I am not privy to the driving record of every Officer I know, I can’t really comment.[/quote]
You don’t have to, I see where your standards are. Such great police officers but the idea that they don’t break the law is so ridiculous to you that you can’t imagine a world where our expectations of them are so high.

What inconvenient point would you like me to address?

@TartanJumper, you are very right, but this man would have always found some way or means to commit a crime of this nature. This was just the most convenient and plausible format. Unfortunately, as is evident from this thread, many people are suggesting that all Police Officers are the same.

@Pumperthepumper, there is absolutely no need for you to be so hostile towards me simply because I am responding to your comments in a way your don’t agree with. You didn’t address any of the other content of my post.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@TartanJumper, you are very right, but this man would have always found some way or means to commit a crime of this nature. This was just the most convenient and plausible format. Unfortunately, as is evident from this thread, many people are suggesting that all Police Officers are the same.[/quote]
Who is?

People are saying the police should be held to higher standards and they’re a profession that has a heart of misogyny and abuse. That’s true.

And that you saying ‘I know a good police officer! means absolutely nothing. It changes nothing. His colleagues knew what he was like, they probably think they’re good officers too.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@Pumperthepumper, there is absolutely no need for you to be so hostile towards me simply because I am responding to your comments in a way your don’t agree with. You didn’t address any of the other content of my post.[/quote]
Tell me what you want me to address and I will.

My comments in my post at 21:14.

[quote RoseRedRoseBlue]@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.[/quote]
This post? What?

Do you want me to say if I want a service or a force? Do you want me to talk about that pendulum swing? What do you want?

I don’t want anything from you. You still haven’t responded to the post, and quite frankly, it’s getting tiresome having to repeat myself. Perhaps it’s best we draw the line here.

All that would do is to convince bystanders that the (apparent) arrest was justified.

Bystanders aren't going to get involved one way or another. If you comply, they'll also think you're guilty and know why you're being arrested

Sarah couldn't have known he wasn't genuine, especially in a split second but as a general rule you do not want to be transported away and you should draw attention if you think you're being kidnapped

It doesn't matter what bystander think. We naturally will presume guilt, that the 'officer' knows something that we don't. Worrying about what strangers think won't help if you end up being killed

@RoseRedRoseBlue

I don’t want anything from you. You still haven’t responded to the post, and quite frankly, it’s getting tiresome having to repeat myself. Perhaps it’s best we draw the line here.

You’ve said several times you want me to address your points, and now you don’t know which ones?

I responded to the part of it that actually answered my previous point - that not speeding puts me in a ‘tiny minority’. Which is not true, and also, not exactly a high bar to set for a police service allowed to use force.

"I hope they lock him up and throw away the key!"

Why do people keep saying this when they know full well that this never happens.

You KNOW what will happen: an inadequate sentence, which he'll serve half of, then be released and attack another woman.

@GitsandShigggles

Can't believe this was actually asked as a question! A lot of officers are single crewed so yes, they can make an arrest when on their own.

Tbh I think it’s a good question

Need to read thread but I’d like to know more about what to look out for

@Maskless

"I hope they lock him up and throw away the key!"

Why do people keep saying this when they know full well that this never happens.

You KNOW what will happen: an inadequate sentence, which he'll serve half of, then be released and attack another woman.

That will not be the case at all.

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

No, they can’t. Police systems are heavily audited, locally and nationally. Most officers don’t have access to everything, they need to request information from the relevant unit and justify why they want it. Those that do have access in those units have to submit to in depth vetting.

Weren’t something like 33 met Officers caught looking at this case after sarah’s murder when they didn’t have a policing purpose?

With this latest news the police now have to go a long way to convince me I should ever allow myself to be arrested. I would fight like a cat if they tried - how can I trust them that I would end up actually at a police station and not murdered in a ditch?

Any woman explaining why she assaulted police officers as they tried to arrest her now can just claim a "Sarah Everard" defence.

I always thought two had to be present for any arrest ? Don't know why and im obviously wrong