This book provides practical guidance on what remains the single most important statutory basis for police duties and powers in England and Wales, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and its Codes of Practice. The law is explained in a clear, informative and accessible manner. With the aid of flow-charts and practical case studies, the book gives excellent guidance on how the procedures and requirements of the Act apply to common every day scenarios facing police officers and other persons charged with the investigation of offences. It alerts the reader to common problems and offers tips for dealing with them whilst also taking account of significant changes in this body of law introduced by the new Codes of Conduct and recent legislation including the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Although the emphasis is on practical guidance, the relevant legal principles and the most important case law are digested and summarised. The book includes the full text of the Act, as amended and the latest version of the Codes of Practice which were implemented on 1st January 2006. This is an essential reference source which the busy police officer or legal practitioner cannot afford to be without.