Stop and search powers.
PACE section 1, the GO WISELY safeguards, drugs searches, section 60 and face coverings, firearms and terrorism searches, road checks and school premises.
10 powers · the conditions, who can use them and the safeguards
Quick reference
| Power | Legislation | Who can use it | What it allows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry and search of school premises for weapons | Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.139B | A constable | Lets a constable enter school or further education premises and search the premises and anyone on them for bladed or pointed articles and offensive weapons, where an offence under s.139A or s.139AA is suspected. |
| Firearms stop and search | Firearms Act 1968, s.47 | A constable | A constable who reasonably suspects a person has a firearm in a public place, or is committing or about to commit a s.18 or s.20 firearms offence elsewhere, may require them to hand it over, search and detain them, search vehicles and enter any place to do so. |
| Removal of face coverings | Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, s.60AA | A constable in uniform (inspector authorisation) | Where a s.60 or s.60AA authorisation is in force, a constable in uniform can require a person to remove an item worn to conceal their identity, and seize items intended for that purpose. |
| Road checks | Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.4 | A superintendent or above (authorisation), or a lower rank if urgent | Lets the police stop all vehicles, or vehicles picked by a set criterion, in a specified locality to find out whether a vehicle is carrying an offender, a witness, an intending offender or a person unlawfully at large. |
| Search for controlled drugs | Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, s.23 | A constable | Lets a constable stop, detain and search a person or vehicle when they have reasonable grounds to suspect someone unlawfully has a controlled drug, and lets a magistrate issue a warrant to search premises for drugs. |
| Stop and search for stolen or prohibited articles | Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.1 | A constable | A constable may stop, detain and search a person or vehicle in a public place if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they will find stolen or prohibited articles, bladed articles, corrosive substances or prohibited fireworks. |
| Stop and search safeguards | Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, ss.2–3 | A constable | The steps an officer must take before, during and after any search of a person or vehicle without arrest, from giving the GO WISELY information to making a record and offering a copy. |
| Stop and search without suspicion in a specified area or place (terrorism authorisation) | Terrorism Act 2000, s.47A | A constable in uniform, under an assistant chief constable's (or Met/City commander's) authorisation | Where a senior officer has authorised it, a uniformed constable may stop and search vehicles, their occupants and pedestrians in a specified area or place for evidence of terrorism, without needing reasonable suspicion. |
| Stop and search without suspicion in anticipation of serious violence | Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, s.60 | A constable in uniform (inspector or above authorises) | Once an inspector or above has authorised it for a locality, a uniformed constable may stop and search people and vehicles there for weapons without any grounds for suspicion. |
| Terrorism stop and search (reasonable suspicion) | Terrorism Act 2000, ss.43–43A | A constable (in uniform to stop a vehicle) | Lets a constable stop and search a person reasonably suspected of being a terrorist, or a vehicle reasonably suspected of being used for terrorism, for evidence of that. |
Tap a power for the numbered conditions, the safeguards and the key definitions.