Introduction

A warrant to arrest is a document issued by the courts that authorises the arrest and detention of a person. They are initiated and resolved by the Ministry of Justice and actioned by the police when possible.

A warrant to arrest is issued in a range of circumstances, usually for not attending a scheduled court appearance.

While the police do not actively pursue every individual who has a warrant to arrest, it does mean that a person with a warrant to arrest could be arrested at any time.

This policy applies to warrants to arrest for defendants issued in criminal proceedings. It does not apply to warrants to arrest for a witness.

A data matching agreement allows the Ministry of Justice to supply MSD with information about people with unresolved warrants.