Stop and Search

Stop and search is a tactic used by the police to detect crime and make communities safer.

Police officers can stop and search anyone if they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. If there’s a Section 60 in place officers can stop and search anyone in a specific area and time frame, without needing to give reasonable grounds.

Police officers also have powers to stop and search a person if they reasonably suspect them to be a terrorist, to find out if they are carrying anything that would confirm that they are a terrorist.

Uniformed police officers also have powers to stop and search pedestrians, vehicles and their occupants to prevent acts of terrorism. These powers are granted to the police by Sections 43 and 47 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The video below explains why we need to stop and search, and what your rights are.