Nightwalker statute

Nightwalker statutes were English statutes, before modern policing, allowing or requiring night watchmen to arrest those found on the streets after sunset and hold them until morning.^[1] Foremost among them was the Statute of Winchester of 1285, which was re-adopted or amended several times until its repeal in 1827. It stated that "if any stranger do pass by them, he shall be arrested until morning."^[2] Such power was interpreted to extend not only to the watchmen themselves, but also to assistants, and allowed the arrest and detention of all persons.^[3]