The Justice Minister says citizen's arrests are 'just an option', with the powers off to a flying start.

Sweeping Crimes Act reforms passed last month, meaning anyone can use 'reasonable force' to detain a person committing an offence, like shoplifting.

Retail NZ's revealed to Newstalk ZB there's been 90 reported citizen's arrests in the first 44 days.

Paul Goldsmith says he understands not everyone backs themselves to do this - and they don't have to.

"If somebody sees somebody walking out of these stores and they feel confident that they can hang on to them, then if they can hang on to them - they ring the police and follow the instructions of the police." 

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