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Citizens' Arrest
Completion requirements
Legal Studies 3080
Citizen's Arrest
From time to time you have probably heard of situations in which a private citizen arrested a criminal without the aid of a police officer. It is possible in certain situations for people to do this.
According to Section 494 of the Criminal Code, you, as a private citizen, can make an arrest if:
- you find someone in the process of committing an indictable offence,
- you reasonably believe someone has committed a criminal offence and is being freshly pursued by the police,
- you find someone committing an offence on your property, or
- you have been authorized by the owner of the property to arrest anyone committing an offence on it.
You can also make an arrest if a police officer asks for
your help (providing the officer has the legal authority to make the
arrest).