Stop and Search Rights
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on UK Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, and official guidance.
What is this right?
A police officer can stop and search you in a public place, but only if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you are carrying stolen goods, weapons, drugs, or items that could be used to commit crime.
Before searching you, the officer must tell you:
- Their name and the police station they work from
- What law they are using (usually PACE s.1 or Misuse of Drugs Act)
- What they are looking for
- The reason for the search (their "grounds")
This is sometimes called the GOWISELY mnemonic: Grounds, Object, Warrant card (if plain clothes), Identification, Station, Entitlement to a copy of the search record, Legal power, You are detained for the search.
When does it apply?
- You are in a public place (including your car, unless at your home address).
- The officer has reasonable suspicion — this cannot be based solely on your race, age, appearance, or the area you're in.
- Under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, a senior officer can authorise searches without reasonable suspicion in a specific area for a limited time — usually after serious violence.
- In Scotland, stop and search operates under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, with a similar requirement for reasonable suspicion.
What should you do?
- Stay calm and cooperate — you are legally required to stop for the search.
- Ask questions — you have the right to know the officer's name, station, grounds, and legal power before the search begins.
- The search should happen in public. The officer can only ask you to remove your outer coat, jacket, and gloves. Anything more must be done out of public view by an officer of the same sex.
- You are entitled to a written record of the search — ask for one. You can request a copy within 3 months.
- If you believe the search was unlawful, don't resist at the time — complain afterwards.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't physically resist — even if the search is unlawful, resisting can lead to arrest for obstruction.
- Don't consent to a voluntary search without understanding your rights — police should use their legal powers, not ask you to "agree" to a search.
- Don't assume all searches are the same — different laws give police different powers (e.g., Terrorism Act searches have different rules).
Choose a region above to see how devolved laws differ from UK national protections.
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