The respondent, a probationer police constable was convicted for obstructing police officers in the execution of their duty under s51(3) of the 1964 Act. He was a regular in a bar he knew was to be raided. He warned the landlord who complied with the law that evening. A plain clothes constable was to drink … Continue reading Green v Moore: 1982
Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 130 Links: Bailii Statutes: Police Act 1964 51(3) Crime Updated: 25 May 2022; Ref: scu.137075
Citations: [1996] EWHC Admin 140 Links: Bailii Statutes: Police Act 1964 51(3) Crime Updated: 25 May 2022; Ref: scu.136688
A motorist was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was required to provide a specimen of breath. He claimed that he had consumed alcohol only a few minutes earlier and the constable had to wait until 20 minutes had elapsed before administering a breath test. Meanwhile the appellant consumed more alcohol supplied … Continue reading Dibble v Ingleton: 1972
The applicant defendant’s enquiry agent was prevented by officers responsible to Detective Superintendent Dale from identifying and interviewing potential witnesses for trial who might support his alibi. When the agent had sought to show a photograph of the applicant to people at a hostel, he was prevented from doing so by police officers because of … Continue reading Connolly v Dale: QBD 11 Jul 1995
No Legal Duty to Assist a Constable At common law there is no legal duty to provide the police with information or otherwise to assist them with their inquiries. Lord Parker set out three questions to be answered when asking whether there had been an obstruction of an officer in the execution of his duties: … Continue reading Rice v Connolly: 1966
The defendant had been in a road traffic accident. The police came to his house to investigate the accident, but he refused to unlock the door to allow them entry. Stating reliance on section 4 of the 1988 Act, the officers threatened to force . .
The defendant had been accused of obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty by warning motorists of presence of a police speed trap. The prosecutor appealed from dismissal of the charge. Held: ‘the hand signals given by the respondent were intended to warn motorists approaching from behind to reduce their speed because of … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions, Regina (on the Application of) v Glendinning: Admn 13 Oct 2005
The police had set up a series of speed traps in London Road, Croydon. Mr Little occupied himself giving warning signals to drivers approaching the traps, thus ensuring that they did not exceed the speed limit. There was no evidence that the drivers were exceeding the speed limit at the time when they received Mr … Continue reading Bastable v Little: 1907
The defendant, an Automobile Association patrolman was accused of obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty. The police had set a speed trap, and the defendant had warned approaching vehicles of the trap. At the time they were warned they were thought to have been already speeding, and the police observed this. … Continue reading Betts v Stevens: 1910