citizen's arrest

(redirected from Civilian arrest)
Also found in: Dictionary.

citizen's arrest

an apprehending of a person by a member of the public. It is assumed in the UK that a private citizen (including a police constable) may arrest another without warrant if the citizen has witnessed the commission of a serious crime. Any force used must be reasonable (or in certain limited circumstances where there has been no unlawful conduct but there is a real threat of a breach of the peace interfering with the rights of another that would involve unreasonable violence).
Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
Human-rights organizations charge that these militias terrorize people they assume to be undocumented immigrants, violate state laws limiting militia activities and civilian arrests, escalate the potential for violence, and maintain links to racist hate groups.
Men with guns: churches, human rights groups, border crossers, and civilian militias are mixing it up on the U.S.-Mexico border
The first American civilian arrested in the DPRK was Evan Hunziker, an evangelical Christian who traveled to South Korea in July 1996, after he was pulled out of the Yalu River by North Korean security forces.
An American On Trial In North Korea: Kenneth Bae's Predecessors
Perhaps Congress assumes that it will always only be 'they' who are targeted for arrest and military detention: but sadly, Parliamentary leaders are the first to face pressure, threats, arrest and even violence when the military obtains the power to make civilian arrests and hold civilians in military facilities without due process.
Congress signs its own arrest warrants
-- Jenin town and refugee camp homes were invaded, searched, and one civilian arrested;
Israel Killed Everything but the Will to Resist
Despite demands from community members to prosecute vigilante groups for violating state statutes prohibiting the formation of militias, kidnapping, conducting illegal civilian arrests, and violating state land permits, state officials have not filed any charges.
Borderland security: vigilantes are far from the fringe in Arizona. Instead, organizers say, ranchers and border agents mirror a violent border society where racial profiling abounds and prosecution of abuse is rare
He also has been responsible for more than 40 civilian arrests on charges of conspiring to bring drugs into a facility.
Officer breaks code of violence
Siderov comments on the June 28 letter of the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party asking Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov to strip Siderov of his MP immunity after he threatened protesters with civilian arrests.
Bulgarian Nationalist Leader Seeks Official Stance of Chief Prosecutor on his MP Immunity

Legal browser ?
Full browser ?