Lou is suspected by the police of having stolen a car - HSC - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 19 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 19
Lou is suspected by the police of having stolen a car.
Which of the following is a legal power that the police have when they approach Lou?
(A) To arrest Lou
(B) To... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Lou is suspected by the police of having stolen a car - HSC - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 19 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
To arrest Lou
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Answer
The police have the legal authority to arrest an individual if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the individual has committed a crime. In this case, since Lou is suspected of stealing a car, this gives the police the power to arrest him.
Step 2
To fingerprint Lou
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Answer
While police may fingerprint individuals, this usually requires either the individual's consent or a legal basis established through arrest; thus, it is not a power they have strictly upon approaching Lou.
Step 3
To require Lou to answer questions
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Answer
The police can ask questions, but they cannot require someone to answer unless they are in custody, or under specific circumstances requiring cooperation.
Step 4
To require Lou to go to the police station
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Answer
Similar to requiring someone to answer questions, police cannot compel an individual to go to the station without sufficient legal grounds, such as an arrest.