Stop and Search (England & Wales): 12 questions answered
Police in England and Wales can usually only search you if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you are carrying something like drugs, a weapon or stolen property. A few powers, such as section 60, allow searches without suspicion in a set area for a limited time.
Law checked as at 25 September 2026. Legal information only, not legal advice. See how we check this page and recent changes.
Can the police stop and search me for no reason?
Usually not. Most searches, including under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), need reasonable grounds to suspect you are carrying stolen goods, a weapon, drugs or items for committing crime. PACE Code A says suspicion can never be based on personal factors alone, such as your race, age, appearance or a previous conviction. The main exception is a section 60 authorisation, which lets uniformed officers search anyone in a set area for weapons without suspicion. Police can also stop you and ask questions, but that is not a search.
What is a section 60 stop and search?
Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 lets an officer of inspector rank or above authorise suspicionless searches in a specific area for up to 24 hours. It can be used where they reasonably believe serious violence may take place, has taken place and a weapon is being carried, or people are carrying weapons without good reason. A superintendent can extend it by another 24 hours. Uniformed officers can then search people and vehicles for weapons, even without suspecting you personally. You can ask for a written statement that you were searched within 12 months.
Can the police search me for drugs?
Yes, if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you have a controlled drug. Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 lets police detain and search you, and search any vehicle you are in, for drugs. The grounds must be objective and specific to you, for example information received or what the officer saw. Intentionally obstructing a lawful drugs search is a criminal offence under section 23(4). If you think the grounds given were weak, you can ask for the search record and make a complaint afterwards.
What must a police officer tell me before searching me?
Before searching, the officer must tell you that you are being detained for a search, their name (or warrant number in terrorism cases) and police station, the legal power being used, what they are looking for, and their grounds for suspicion or the nature of any authorisation. They must also tell you that you can get a copy of the search record within three months and how to get it. This is often remembered as GOWISELY. Plain-clothes officers must show a warrant card. These rules are in PACE Code A.
Do I have to give police my name and address when stopped?
In most stop and search situations, no. PACE Code A says you are under no obligation to give your name, address or date of birth for the search record. There are exceptions. Drivers must give their name and address when asked under the Road Traffic Act 1988, and refusing to give details to an officer who believes you have behaved antisocially is an offence under section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002. If police want to report you for an offence and cannot find out who you are, they may be able to arrest you instead.
Can police make me take my clothes off during a search?
In public, police can only require you to remove an outer coat, jacket and gloves, though they may feel around pockets, collars, socks and shoes. Anything more must happen out of public view, such as in a police van or station, and be done by an officer of the same sex. A search exposing intimate parts of the body is a strip search, which must not be routine and normally takes place at a police station. A child or vulnerable adult should have an appropriate adult present, except in urgent cases.
Can the police search my car?
Yes, in several situations. A driver must stop when required by a uniformed officer under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, but stopping a car does not by itself allow a search. Police can search a vehicle if they have reasonable grounds under section 1 of PACE or section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, or without suspicion inside a section 60 area. If they search an unattended vehicle, they must leave a notice saying it was searched and how to get the record or claim compensation for damage.
How do I get a copy of my stop and search record?
You are entitled to a copy of the search record if you ask within three months of the search. The officer may give you a copy or a receipt on the spot, or tell you how to get it from the police force, often online or at a station. For a section 60 search, you can ask for a written statement that you were searched within 12 months. The record should show the officer's details, the power used, what was being looked for and the grounds. It can be useful if you want to complain.
Can I film the police during a stop and search?
Generally yes. There is no law stopping members of the public from filming or photographing police officers in a public place, and officers should not delete footage or seize your phone just because you are recording. You must not physically obstruct the officers, which can be an offence under section 89 of the Police Act 1996. Collecting information about officers that could be useful to terrorists is an offence in rare cases. Many officers wear body-worn cameras too, and that footage may be relevant to a complaint.
What is stop and account, and do I have to answer?
Stop and account is when an officer asks you to explain what you are doing, where you have been or what you are carrying, without searching you. You have no legal duty to answer these questions, and walking away is not an offence in itself. PACE Code A says there is no national requirement for the officer to make a record or give you a receipt, although some forces do. Your answers, or refusal, could still affect whether the officer then decides they have grounds for a search or arrest.
What happens if I refuse to be searched?
If the search is lawful, you cannot legally refuse it, and officers can use reasonable force to carry it out under section 117 of PACE. Resisting or obstructing a lawful search can be a criminal offence, for example under section 89 of the Police Act 1996 or section 23(4) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and failing to stop under section 60 is also an offence. If you think the search is unlawful, it is usually safer to say so calmly, ask for the officer's details and grounds, and challenge it afterwards through a complaint.
How do I complain about a stop and search?
You can complain directly to the police force involved, usually through its professional standards department or website, or through the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) website, which passes complaints to the force. Complaints should normally be made within 12 months. The force deals with most complaints first. If you are unhappy with the outcome, your letter will tell you whether the review body is the IOPC or the local police and crime commissioner. Keep your search record, any footage and witness details. A solicitor can advise on a civil claim.
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