The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and its Codes of Practice are a vital part of the legislative framework that lays out police powers for combating crime.

This revised PACE Code G explores the statutory powers of arrest under section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as amended by section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Code G came into effect after midnight on 31 December 2005.

The revisions to Code G include:

• Updated provisions and guidance for police about their statutory power under section 24 of PACE to arrest any person without warrant for any offence
• Clarification and emphasis of the application of the necessity criteria in section 24(5) of the Act, reflecting a number of court judgments about the need to arrest to interview ('voluntary interviews') where the only investigative action required is to interview the suspect and victim
• Stating that arrests may not be made solely to obtain fingerprints and DNA
• Additional notes for guidance on the law on self defence, which may be particularly relevant to officers dealing with allegations of assault. This includes provisions specific to teachers, which allow the use of reasonable force to prevent their pupils from committing any offence, injuring persons, damaging property or prejudicing the maintenance of good order and discipline