PART 1Police reform
CHAPTER 2The Police Service of Scotland
Functions of constables
20Constables: general duties
1
It is the duty of a constable—
a
to prevent and detect crime,
b
to maintain order,
c
to protect life and property,
d
to take such lawful measures, and make such reports to the appropriate prosecutor, as may be needed to bring offenders with all due speed to justice,
e
where required, to serve and execute a warrant, citation or deliverance issued, or process duly endorsed, by a Lord Commissioner of Justiciary, sheriff, justice of the peace or stipendiary magistrate in relation to criminal proceedings, and
f
to attend court to give evidence.
2
When taking lawful measures in pursuance of subsection (1)(d), a constable must take every precaution to ensure that a person charged with an offence is not unreasonably or unnecessarily detained in custody.
3
Subsection (2) does not prejudice the operation of section 135(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.46).