PACE Code G • Arrest necessity

IDCOPPLAN police meaning

Arrest necessity criteria ('ID COP PLAN') — PACE s24 / Code G. A straightforward operational memory aid for IDCOPPLAN.

Short answer

An arrest without warrant under PACE s24 requires both involvement in an offence AND reasonable grounds for believing arrest is necessary for one of the Code G para 2.9 reasons. IDCOPPLAN is the standard training aide for those necessity reasons; officers must justify which criterion applies.

IDCOPPLAN
Arrest necessity criteria ('ID COP PLAN') — PACE s24 / Code G
IInvestigation — to allow the prompt and effective investigation of the offence or of the conduct of the person
DDisappearance — to prevent any prosecution being hindered by the disappearance of the person
CChild or vulnerable person — to protect a child or other vulnerable person from the person
OObstruction — to prevent the person causing an unlawful obstruction of the highway
PPhysical injury — to prevent the person causing physical injury to themselves or others, or suffering injury
PPublic decency — to prevent the person committing an offence against public decency
LLoss or damage — to prevent the person causing loss of or damage to property
AAddress — the person's address is not known, is doubted or cannot readily be ascertained
NName — the person's name is not known, is doubted or cannot readily be ascertained

When officers use it

An arrest without warrant under PACE s24 requires both involvement in an offence AND reasonable grounds for believing arrest is necessary for one of the Code G para 2.9 reasons. IDCOPPLAN is the standard training aide for those necessity reasons; officers must justify which criterion applies.

Practical point: use the mnemonic alongside current training, procedures and the live facts.

Why Section includes this

Section is a fast UK police reference app for officers and student officers: offences, points to prove, PACE powers and operational mnemonics in one offline place.

What does IDCOPPLAN stand for?

I = Investigation, D = Disappearance, C = Child or vulnerable person, O = Obstruction, P = Physical injury, P = Public decency, L = Loss or damage, A = Address, N = Name.

DIE — Search of a person upon arrest — PACE s32 WASPS — Powers of entry without warrant — PACE s17 GOWISELY — Stop and search — information the officer must give (PACE s2 / Code A)

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