Part 3 s 39 (2) Crimes Act 1961 Version as at 6 November 2021 This section shall apply whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it. Compare: 1908 No 32 s 58 Use of force 39 Force used in executing process or in arrest Where any person is justified, or protected from criminal responsibility, in exe‐ cuting or assisting to execute any sentence, warrant, or process, or in making or assisting to make any arrest, that justification or protection shall extend and apply to the use by him or her of such force as may be necessary to overcome any force used in resisting such execution or arrest, unless the sentence, war‐ rant, or process can be executed or the arrest made by reasonable means in a less violent manner: provided that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, this section shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm. Compare: 1908 No 32 s 60 40 Preventing escape or rescue (1) Where any person is lawfully authorised to arrest or to assist in arresting any other person, or is justified in or protected from criminal responsibility for arresting or assisting to arrest any other person, that authority, justification, or protection, as the case may be, shall extend and apply to the use of such force as may be necessary— (a) to prevent the escape of that other person if he or she takes to flight in order to avoid arrest; or (b) to prevent the escape or rescue of that other person after his or her arrest— unless in any such case the escape or rescue can be prevented by reasonable means in a less violent manner: provided that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, this subsection shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm. (2) Where any prisoner of a prison is attempting to escape from lawful custody, or is fleeing after having escaped therefrom, every constable, and every person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, is justified in using such force as may be necessary to prevent the escape of or to recapture the prisoner, unless in any such case the escape can be prevented or the recapture effected by reasonable means in a less violent manner. Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 62, 63, 64, 65 Section 40(2): amended, on 1 June 2005, by section 206 of the Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50). 46