Individuals with powers of arrest

Originally, powers of arrest were confined to sheriffs in England for a local area. Over the past few hundred years, the legal power of arrest has gradually expanded to include a large number of people/officials, the majority of which have come to the fore more recently. These various individuals all may utilise similar or different powers of arrest, but generally adhere to one particular field.

The individuals below have been listed in order of when the power of arrest became available to the individual, starting from the earliest.

United Kingdom

England & Wales

The following persons all have various powers of arrest within England & Wales in various capacities provided by the below legislation:

Police Constables

Members of public (any person arrest)

Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons
Officer or agent Companies Clauses Consolidation Act 1845
Military Police

Royal Air Force Police
Royal Navy Police
Prison officers
Court bailiff
Court officer
Sheriff (Sheriffs Act 1887)
Epping Forest Keepers (park rangers)
Customs & Excise officer
Immigration officer

Environment Agency officer
Water bailiff
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
SOCA officer
(N.B. can possess powers of immigration, customs and excise and Police constable simultaneously)

United States