When witnessing a breach of the peace, what is a person justified to do?

Study for the Community Peace Officer Induction Program 15 Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

When you witness a breach of the peace, you may take steps to stop the disturbance and you can detain the person until a peace officer arrives. This is about preventing immediate harm to people or property and helping to preserve public safety. Use only reasonable, proportionate force needed to prevent the breach or to restrain the individual temporarily, then hand them over to the police as soon as possible. You are not authorized to arrest and prosecute on your own; that is the role of the police or the courts. Deadly force is not justified for a breach of the peace unless there is an immediate and serious threat to life or serious injury, which goes far beyond the usual scenario of a disturbance. When safe to do so, call for help and await the arrival of officers, keeping yourself and others safe.