Hi all! When police officers go on holiday do they have the same powers as they would in their own country?

Answer 1

There's some interesting and incorrect information on here!
I don't know what the laws are in other countries in relation to a Police officers powers when in his/her own country and off duty but in the UK (apart from Scotland), a Police officers powers are the same whether he/she is in or out of uniform, on or off duty. The powers are given by the warrant card and NOT the uniform or the fact that an officer is on or off duty.
However, you can only be arrested for some offences by an officer in uniform.
In short, a Police officers powers are the same, on or off duty, in or out of uniform but some offences are only arrestable by an officer in uniform and some tickets can only be issued when in uniform. That said, there are other ways to deal with an offence, an arrest is not always necessary.
As for other countries, a Police officers powers only apply in the country in which he/she is an officer.
Bear in mind though that a Police officer is generally the type of person that would get involved anyway and it does happen where 'foreign' officers tackle criminals abroad.

Answer 2

No for instance an English or Welsh officer only as power in their own and each others country and a Scots officer only in Scotland.Went I went to USA for holiday I was amazed how many times I was asked if I had jurisdiction there.But remeber that most police officers powers are not that different from a normal person or as the Americans call it they can make citizens arrests so an English officer on holiday in Scotland could still arrest in a lot of circumstances and hand prisoner over to local police.

Answer 3

Powers of arrest are usually confined to within the state (U.S.) of the officers certification. In the U.S. this will not usually transfer from state to state. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, the governor of Mississippi had to make a special decree to allow all the out of state police officers that had came in to provide security temporary police powers within the state. This definitely would not transfer from country to county. Interpol allows certain latitude with national police agencies, such as the F.B.I., to make arrests outside the country, but this is well regulated. Ordinary police does not have this power. If I took vacation in an European country, I would be just as any other tourist and would be subject to the same laws as anyone else.

Answer 4

I have heard it said that police officer's are ALWAY'S on duty, what ever they are doing, wherever they are...is this not true then? what about the police officer on his hols in NEW YORK a few years ago--think it was a bank robbery? He was in the right place, at the right time--as i remember, and he received a citation from the mayor, and major publicity on both side's of the pond. JESSICA...you really do need to put some weight on my dear--have a good meal or something why don't you--you look ill!

Answer 5

No I think they have to obey the law of the land they holiday in, although they probably get the respect of their fellow officers and police authorities and legal systems

Answer 6

No they do not, but they will be more willing than others to step forward and act as a witness or report an infringement of a Law.
The warrant of the Uk police is for there constabulary only as well and could be a problem for instance if they arrested someone outside of their area.

Answer 7

No. English police don't even have powers in Scotland.

Answer 8

No their police position is only for their own country~~

Answer 9

They are just the same as you or me, no that's a lie, they could never be the same as you or me, they don't know how to enjoy themselves without the power they have in this country !!

Answer 10

No- as the chap above said- even English police have no jurisdiction in the savage North.