§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has considered the recent submission made to a court in Co. Armagh regarding a police constable's power to arrest unless the offence is of an arrestable or indictable nature or under a specific statutory power; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonInterpretation of the law is essentially a matter for the courts; it is my understanding that a constable has power to arrest without warrant for the offence of disorderly behaviour, but I am considering whether any clarification of the law would be desirable.