What is needed for police to conduct an arrest without a warrant?

For police to conduct an arrest without a warrant, they need to have a reasonable belief that an indictable offence has occurred. This standard is rooted in the principles of criminal procedure and aims to balance the rights of individuals with the need for effective law enforcement.

In other words, officers must have credible evidence or facts that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that an indictable offence has been committed, and that the person being arrested is connected to that crime. This requirement helps to safeguard against arbitrary arrests and ensures that there is a factual basis for taking such a significant action.

While suspicion of prior criminal activity can be a component of an investigation, it is not sufficient on its own for a warrantless arrest. Similarly, approval from a judge is not required prior to an arrest; rather, it is typically sought after the arrest has been made, especially in the context of securing a search warrant or a judicial determination of whether the arrest was justified. A victim's statement may provide valuable information, but alone, it does not establish the necessary grounds for an arrest without further corroboration or evidence of an offence.