ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the power of the police and the citizen to enforce attendance at court, be it by summons or, more importantly, by way of arrest. It considers the question of entry into private premises to effect an arrest, as will the law on search and seizure. The summons will be served by the police usually personally, or it may be left with an adult at his given address as stipulated by statute. There are common law powers of arrest without the need for a warrant in both private citizens and police officers. In most Commonwealth Caribbean jurisdictions, statute has intervened to codify some of these powers and in all cases has extended them. Powers of arrest at common law are enjoyed by both private citizens and the police. They arise in situations where a person has breached or is about to breach the peace.