Editing False arrest (section)

== United Kingdom ==
In the United Kingdom, a police officer may arrest a person if they are executing a warrant, if they have a "reasonable belief" that someone is involved in a criminal offence, or if they have a reasonable belief that someone is about to be involved in a criminal offence ''and'' it is necessary to arrest that person. Proof of wrongful arrest depends on proving that an officer did not have a reasonable belief and that it was not necessary to arrest someone.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is wrongful arrest?|url=https://www.hudgellsolicitors.co.uk/questions-answers/what-is-wrongful-arrest/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Hudgell Solicitors™|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Most cases where unlawful arrest was determined emerge from a claim that an arrest was unnecessary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Unlawful arrest - inadequate grounds for suspecting person to be guilty of an offence|url=https://ukpolicelawblog.com/index.php/9-blog/204-unlawful-arrest-inadequate-grounds-for-suspecting-person-to-be-guilty-of-an-offence|access-date=2020-06-08|website=ukpolicelawblog.com}}</ref>

The specific legislation governing, in England and Wales, the reasons for which a police officer may arrest a person are in section 24 of the [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=When is an arrest unlawful?|url=https://www.saunders.co.uk/news/when-is-an-arrest-unlawful.html|access-date=2020-06-08|website=www.saunders.co.uk|date=29 June 2017|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/120/data.htm|access-date=2020-06-08|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>

Damages for unlawful arrest depend primarily on the time in custody and can be aggravated if the police acted maliciously.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wrongful Arrest|url=https://www.drnlaw.co.uk/solicitors-for-you/wrongful-arrest/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Donald Race & Newton Solicitors Burnley|date=3 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref>