Know Your Rights:

A Citizen’s Primer on Law

Enforcement


Boholst, Jewerly
B.S Criminology 3rd year Block A
CITIZEN
CONTAC
T
 What is citizen contact and
4.1
what is it for?

A citizen contact is when a police officer
engages in face-to-face communication with a
citizen. This face-to-face contact does not mean
that the citizen is being suspected of committing
a crime. It is undertaken for purposes of asking
questions or gathering information that is official
and not personal in nature and which will
support the police in his conduct of intelligence
and investigation.
4.2Police protocols during citizen
contact that you should know.

The PNP imposes stringent rules on its men in
order to ensure the protection of rights of individuals
from whom police officers obtain information. Police
officers may initiate citizen contacts only for legitimate
police-related purposes and to engender citizen
support in solving crimes. They may not use such
contacts on a perpetual basis so as to intimidate, harass
or coerce citizens. Citizen contacts are based on the
presumption that the citizen is not under any
reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
If you are contacted by any
police officer, be aware that
such police officer is bound
by the following protocols
A. He cannot frisk or detain you.

B. He should not use force or coercion to

require you to stop or respond to questions
or directions. His request does not in any
way hinder your freedom to leave him.

C. He cannot create a barrier to your ability

to leave such as keeping your driver’s
license or by creating a physically imposing
and intimidating presence.
D. The police officer should introduce himself
and explain the reason for making the
contact. He/she should act in a courteous
and restrained manner at all times and avoid
stern words that sound like commands.

E. He is expected to keep the contact as brief

as possible.

F. When asked whether you must respond to

questions, he should inform you that you
need not answer any question or are free to
leave anytime.