Can Specials arrest people off duty?
Specials are issued with a warrant card just like regular officers. This is the police officer’s authority to police – his or her “warrant”. Without the warrant card, the officer would not be lawfully able to make arrests, etc. We have to carry ours at all times (except when in the bath of course). Regarding off-duty powers, this is a common topic of discussion! The Home Office recently clarified this (at last) — Specials have the same powers as regular officers on and off duty. So whether a regular or a Special, you could make an off duty arrest, but it’s strongly advised against and really only for emergencies. Think about it – when off-duty you wouldn’t have a radio to call for help, aren’t recognisable as a police officer, and the chances of ending up face down in the gutter mean it’s really not a good idea. Far better in those circumstances to act as an “expert witness”, dial 999 and observe from a safe distance. The main exception is if someone’s life is in real and immediate da
