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Policing: Arrests procedure revealed to the public

A local Detective — who works for Sussex Police — has admitted that officers should only arrest suspects when they have committed an offence that cannot be dealt with in any other way and where it's in the public interest to do so. He also said that those arrested aren't necessarily in any trouble and may only be in custody for a few hours while officers decide what action (if any) to take. For example, suspects may be discharged, helped, provided with the opportunity to calm themselves, or given an out-of-court disposal as an alternative to being unnecessarily criminalised.

Image of a police car.
Copyright: Dwayne Hards.

The public can challenge the police if they feel they've been mistreated, according to the Littlehampton Police Station. They can do this by contacting the police, IOPC, or professional standards department; reporting the incident; or, if necessary, taking legal action. To find out more about this, please ask your local force for more information regarding how to complain.

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