Thinking Before Arresting

The Supreme Court has given an important reminder to the police: think before making an arrest.

The court said that before arresting someone, a police officer should first ask a simple question: Is this arrest really necessary? Just because the law allows arrests does not mean police should arrest people casually or just to ask questions. Arresting someone should be rare, not routine, and should happen only when absolutely needed.

The judges made it clear that the power to arrest is not something to use all the time. It should be used carefully and responsibly. Arrests can seriously harm a person’s life, reputation, and family, even if that person later turns out to be innocent.

So why do unnecessary arrests still happen? The court suggests the problem may be police culture. In many places, arresting people has become a way to punish them, even before a court decides if they are guilty. This ignores people’s basic rights and treats the arrest process itself as punishment.

The ruling also builds on an earlier Supreme Court order from November 2025. In that case, the court said police must tell a person, in writing and in a language they understand, why they are being arrested. This rule applies to all laws. If police don’t follow it, the arrest is illegal, and the person must be released.

Now, the Supreme Court has gone one step further. It says police must first justify the arrest to themselves before acting.

The big question is: Will the police listen?

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