All offences to be made arrestable under Home Office plans

Police will have the power to arrest anyone committing any type of offence, however minor, under proposals published for consultation today by the Home Office.

Under the proposals, the courts will also be open to draw inferences from an individual's refusal to submit to a search for drugs.

The proposals also include greater powers for executing search warrants, releasing police officers for front-line duties by giving police staff greater powers, and improving the use of forensic material, for example by allowing roadside fingerprinting and extending powers to take DNA samples and footwear impressions.

The measures are part of government police reforms designed to develop a modern, effective police service which is responsive and accountable to its local community, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said.

The government has said it "is committed to legislating on many of the provisions in this consultation paper at the earliest possible opportunity" and has asked for comments by October 8.

The Minister added: "The measures we have set out today are part of the second phase of the government's police reform programme. We want to strengthen the link between the police and the community, increasing the accountability and responsiveness of the service and building the confidence and awareness of the community.

"We already have record police numbers and nearly 4,000 community support officers. These new powers will make a significant contribution to creating a modern and efficient service, able to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

The Home Office proposals have arrived just 24 hours after the Tories launched their own anti-crime strategy. Critics of the government would suggest that there is apparent convergence between the Tory Opposition and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. The Tories pledge to cut 'fat government', the Treasury promises to sack 100,000 civil servants; the Tories pledge more prisons and zero tolerance policing, the Home Office promises to make all crimes arrestable offences.

(gmcg)