§ Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the powers conferred on police officers under the Trucial States Special Police Officers Regulations, 1957, confer power to arrest a person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyThe Trucial States Special Police Officers Regulation, 1957, empowers Her Majesty's Political Agent, Trucial States, to appoint special police officers as necessary for the preservation of peace and good order among persons subject to Her Majesty's jurisdiction in the Trucial States. Article 14(a) of the Regulation confers on these special police officers power to arrest without warrant
any person who has been concerned in any offence punishable with death or imprisonment exceeding three years or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned.34W The power has been conferred because it would involve unacceptable delays if no arrest could be made in these cases until a warrant had been obtained from Her Majesty's Court for the Trucial States. Articles 16 and 17 of the Regulation limit the period for which a person arrested without a warrant may be detained in custody before being brought before the Court.