Section 14 — Power to stop and search persons
This version in force from 2022-06-06
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) This section applies where a police or customs officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed, or is committing, a relevant offence.
(2) The officer may—
(a) search the person for relevant evidence;
(b) stop and detain the person for the purposes of the search.
(3) The powers conferred by this section may be exercised in any place to which the officer lawfully has access (whether or not it is a place to which the public has access).
(4) In this Act—“police or customs officer” means— (a) a constable, (b) a designated customs official, or (c) a designated NCA officer authorised by the Director General of the National Crime Agency (whether generally or specifically) to exercise the powers of a police or customs officer under this Act; “relevant evidence” means evidence that a relevant offence has been committed; “relevant offence” means— (a) an offence in connection with an exemption certificate or with registration under section 10, or (b) an offence under section 12.