Questions 01. Why is the right to liberty and security of person such an important right? 02. On the question of unnecessary arrests, give reasons why it is not always appropriate to arrest a person even when you have the legal power to do so. 03. International human rights texts forbid arbitrary arrests. Devise a definition of an arbitrary arrest. 04. In addition to their usual powers of arrest (e.g. for the arrest of persons who may have committed criminal acts), police are sometimes empowered to arrest persons for the purpose of preventing the spread of infectious diseases, persons of unsound mind, alcoholics, drug addicts and vagrants. Do you consider that it is a function of the police to deal with all of these categories of people? Which of these categories of people should be the concern of the police? Is it always necessary to exercise powers of arrest when dealing with them? 05. Both international human rights instruments and domestic legal texts require a person arrested on a criminal charge to be brought promptly before a judge or other judicial authority. Why have such provisions been introduced? 06. What violations of international human rights standards are committed when people are subjected to enforced or involuntary disappearances? What breaches of the criminal law of your country would be committed if such acts were carried out? 07. Why are interpersonal skills, especially communication skills, important when effecting an arrest? 08. Can interpersonal skills, including communication skills, be taught successfully? Imagine that you have been asked to devise a course for training police in such skills and devise an outline course programme setting out the subjects to be covered. 09. Make a list of the main points of advice you would give to a newly appointed police official on effecting lawful, necessary, expert and discreet arrests. 10. For the sake of discussion, imagine that a team of police officials has carried out the arrest of a number of suspects for serious crime following a planned policing operation. What points would you want to review during a debriefing exercise of this operation? 69