It can be recalled that at the radio program yesterday, Deveaux was insisting that the laws of Sierra Leone permit civilians to execute arrest whiles Yokie, Mcfoy and Asma were bitterly disagreeing with him with the strong opinion that no law in Sierra Leone permits civilians to execute arrest.
Setting the records straight, Superintendent Samura repeatedly confirmed that civilians have Five powers of arrest whiles the police have Six, adding that the only difference among the two is that the police have the power to detain, which the civilian has not.
The police boss made this confirmation quoting Part I, Sections 11 and 12 of the Criminal Procedure Acts of 1965 stating: Any person may arrest without a warrant – a. any person who in his presence commits a felony; b. any person whom he suspects of having committed a felony, if such felony had actually been committed and such private person has reasonable grounds to believe that the person arrested has committed that felony; c. any person offering to sell, pawn or deliver any property which such private person has reasonable grounds to believe to be stolen property; d. any person about to commit an act which would manifestly endanger another person’s life; e. any person detaining or suspected of detaining any other person with the intent to kidnap or unlawfully remove him from Sierra Leone; and 12 went on to say: “When a private person arrests any person under section 11 he shall deliver the person arrested, and the property, if any, taken into possession by him, as soon as may be to a constable.
