Abstract: A latch arrangement for releasably retaining a striker, comprising a latch bolt shaped to retain the striker at a latching position, and to release the striker at an unlatching position of the latch bolt; a locking mechanism moveable between a locking position, at which it retains the latch bolt at its latching position, and an unlocking position, at which it allows the latch bolt to move to its unlatching position; means for linking the locking mechanism to a latch-opening external manual control such as a door handle; drive means coupled to the locking mechanism and/or the latch bolt for powered actuation thereof to latch or unlatch the locking mechanism and/or to drive the latch bolt to its latching position or to its unlatching position; a rotary clutch coupling the drive means to an electrical drive motor; and a clutch release mechanism drivingly coupled to the said external manual control such that operation of the latch-opening external manual control isolates the latch bolt and locking mechanism from