Arrest elsewhere than at a police station

s.30Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

After an arrest away from a police station, a constable must take the person to a police station as soon as practicable, but may delay this for immediate investigations or release them first.

Arrest elsewhere than at a police station · Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.30Card 14 / 59

When you can use it

s.30(1)The person was arrested by a constable for an offence, or taken into custody by a constable after being arrested for an offence by someone else, at a place other than a police station
s.30(1A)They must be taken by a constable to a police station as soon as practicable after the arrest
s.30(2)–(4)The station must be a designated one. A constable working in an area covered by a non-designated station, or from a non-territorial force, may use any station unless it appears the person may need to be detained for more than 6 hours
s.30(5)Any constable may use any station if acting alone with no other constable available, and it appears the person cannot be taken to a designated station without injuring themselves, the constable or someone else
s.30(6)If first taken to a non-designated station, they must be moved to a designated one within 6 hours of arrival, unless released first
s.30(7)–(7A)They must be released without bail if, before reaching a station, a constable is satisfied there are no grounds for keeping them under arrest
s.30AA constable may release them on bail or without bail before they reach a station
s.30(10)–(10A)Taking them to a station, or releasing them, may be delayed if their presence elsewhere is necessary to carry out investigations it is reasonable to carry out immediately

What it allows

Taking the arrested person to a police station of the type set out in s.30.
Delaying the journey so the person can be present for investigations that cannot reasonably wait, such as searching premises under s.18(5).
Releasing the person before they reach a station, either without bail or on “street bail” under s.30A with a requirement to attend any police station later.

Key definitions

Designated police station – s.35: a station the chief officer has designated for detaining arrested people.
As soon as practicable – not necessarily at once. Delay to carry out investigations is permitted by s.30(10)–(10A).
Bail pre-condition – s.30A(1A): the constable is satisfied bail is necessary and proportionate, and a custody officer authorises it after considering any representations.
Bail end date – s.30B(8): the last day of 3 months beginning with the day after arrest. The person cannot be told to attend after it.

Safeguards

Reasons for any delay must be recorded on arrival at the station or on release (s.30(11)).
A release under s.30(7) must be recorded as soon as practicable (s.30(8)–(9)).
Before a s.30A release, give a written notice stating the offence, the ground for arrest and whether bail applies. For bail, add the station, the time and any conditions, with how to vary them (s.30B).
Street bail conditions cannot include a recognizance, security, sureties or living in a bail hostel (s.30A(3A)).
Code C 10.4: caution on arrest. Code C 11.1: no interview away from a station unless delay would risk harm to evidence or people, serious loss or damage to property, alerting other suspects, or hindering recovery of property. Stop once the risk is dealt with.

Good to know

Exam trap: release under s.30(7) is a duty (“must”). Release under s.30A is a discretion (“may”).
The detention clock usually starts on arrival at the first police station, not at arrest (s.41(2)(d)).
The bail end date became 3 months under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, in force since 28 October 2022.
Sections 30 and 30A do not affect certain powers under the Immigration Act 1971, the Criminal Justice Act 1972, the Terrorism Act 2000 or the National Security Act 2023 (s.30(12)).

Legislation: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.30 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Who can use it: A constable
Last checked: 3 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Arrest elsewhere than at a police station: questions people ask

When can the police use arrest elsewhere than at a police station?

1. The person was arrested by a constable for an offence, or taken into custody by a constable after being arrested for an offence by someone else, at a place other than a police station 2. They must be taken by a constable to a police station as soon as practicable after the arrest 3. The station must be a designated one. A constable working in an area covered by a non-designated station, or from a non-territorial force, may use any station unless it appears the person may need to be detained for more than 6 hours 4. Any constable may use any station if acting alone with no other constable available, and it appears the person cannot be taken to a designated station without injuring themselves, the constable or someone else 5. If first taken to a non-designated station, they must be moved to a designated one within 6 hours of arrival, unless released first 6. They must be released without bail if, before reaching a station, a constable is satisfied there are no grounds for keeping them under arrest 7. A constable may release them on bail or without bail before they reach a station 8. Taking them to a station, or releasing them, may be delayed if their presence elsewhere is necessary to carry out investigations it is reasonable to carry out immediately

Who can use arrest elsewhere than at a police station?

A constable.

What law gives the power for arrest elsewhere than at a police station?

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.30.

More powers of arrest

All powers of arrest