It is doubtful that anyone would suggest that the police have an easy job. They have to investigate crimes, gather evidence, apprehend and question suspects, and deal with a variety of unpleasant and dangerous situations. Because it is their duty to protect the rest of us, the police are granted a wide range of powers. If they have sufficient cause, for example, they can deprive citizens of their rights, as when they take a suspect into custody.


For the most part, the police must protect the rights guaranteed to us in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - and those rights are guaranteed for offenders along with everyone else. This puts added pressure on the police as they do their job; they have to follow proper procedures when they stop a vehicle, make an arrest, or conduct a search of private property. Much depends on the seriousness of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it.