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 and re-adopted or amended several times until its repeal in 1827 that stated "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]