23. Duties of police-officers.
It shall be the duty of every police-officer promptly to obey and execute all orders and warrants lawfully issued to him by any competent authority; to collect and communicate intelligence affecting the public peace; to prevent the commission of offences and public nuisances; to detect and bring offenders to justice and to apprehend all persons whom he is legally authorized to apprehend, and for whose apprehension sufficient ground exists; and it shall be lawful for every police-officer, for any of the purposes mentioned in this section, without a warrant, to enter and inspect any drinking-shop, gaming-house or other place of resort of loose and disorderly characters.
1. For some cases in which the application of s. 20 has been restricted, see the Assam Police-officers Regulation, 1883 (2 of 1883), and s. 2 of the Punjab Frontier Police-officer Regulation, 1893 (7 of 1893).
2. The Bengal Chaukidari Act, 1856.