Arrest

An arrest is the action of police or other authority, or even in some circumstances a private civilian, to apprehend and take under guard a person who is suspected of committing a crime. The term is Frankish in origin and is related to the French word Arrêt, meaning "stop". In many legal systems, an arrest requires mere verbal information to suspects that they are under arrest on suspicion of a given crime; the laying of hands or restraints upon the person of the suspect is usually not required to effect an official and valid arrest.

See also

• Arrest warrant
• Citizen's arrest