Expanded citizen’s arrest powers could open a legal can of worms – here’s what to know

Getty Images It has a dull title – the Crimes Amendment Act 2026 – but one aspect of its provisions has had plenty of publicity: the expanded right to make “citizen’s arrests”. Aimed primarily at giving retail staff greater powers to combat petty crime, and security guards more power to hold people, the amendments raise an important question: what are the risks if people misunderstand or misuse these new powers? In fact, “citizens” do not really have powers of arrest – unless they are asked by…