1. Ask if you’re under arrest
Question & Answer
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?What you should do
Without a , the police are only allowed to you for a minor crime if they see you committing the .
You might be charged without being if you tell the truth about who you are, and the police believe:
- you will not destroy
- you will not repeat the offence
- you will go to court as required
If the crime is more serious, you'll be arrested. To find out whether the police are arresting you, ask. Say politely, “Am I under arrest?” If they say that you are, ask them why.
Your rights
You have a right to be told immediately why you're being arrested.
When you're being arrested, the police can search you in order to:
- find evidence related to the offence you're being arrested for
- prevent you from destroying evidence
- protect the police or public
When you're being arrested, the police can also search your immediate surroundings, which include:
- you
- your clothing
- anything you're carrying, including your knapsack, purse, or cell phone
- your car if that's where you're arrested