Stop and Search
The power of a police constable under s.1 PACE 1984 to search a person or vehicle for stolen or prohibited articles, provided they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. The officer must give their name, station, and grounds for the search.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 allows a constable to search a person or vehicle, or anything in or on a vehicle, for stolen or prohibited articles, and to detain a person or vehicle for the purpose of that search, in a public place or another place people have ready access to that is not a dwelling.
The power may only be exercised where the constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that they will find stolen or prohibited articles (or certain other specified items, such as articles connected with terrorism or fireworks). If, in the course of a search, the constable discovers an article they have reasonable grounds for suspecting is stolen or prohibited, they may seize it.
Related terms
Official sources
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