What constitutes false imprisonment?

False imprisonment occurs when a person is unlawfully deprived of their freedom of movement against their will. This definition captures the essence of false imprisonment, emphasizing that the restriction must be unlawful and involuntary. Such an act can take various forms, including physical restraint, the use of threats, or any actions that prevent an individual from leaving a specific area.

When discussing the other options, restraining someone with their consent would not constitute false imprisonment, as consent negates the involuntariness that is essential for false imprisonment. Holding someone while awaiting police could also be justified under certain circumstances, such as when there is a reasonable belief that the individual has committed a crime, which does not inherently lead to a claim of false imprisonment. Keeping someone in a public place against their will can involve nuances, since confinement is not strictly limited to private spaces; however, if the person still has the ability to leave the public place, it may not meet the criteria for false imprisonment. Thus, the key aspect of option B aligns perfectly with the legal definition of false imprisonment.