SECTION 18 PACE UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
When can you use S18? - CORRECT ANSWER - Any premises associated with a suspect
arrested for an indictable offence can be searched.
Does the search have to be authorised? - CORRECT ANSWER - YES
Why is this power of search useful? - CORRECT ANSWER - Because a person who has
committed a suspected crime is unlikely to keep items related to that crime in their possession for
long.
What must there be in terms of grounds? - CORRECT ANSWER - Must be reasonable
grounds to suspect that there is evidence on the premises that relates to either the offence in
question, a similar offence OR to some other related indictable offence.
Any items found in relation to S18 - what can be done to them? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Seized and retained for as long as necessary (S22)
Definition of S18 - CORRECT ANSWER - "Section 18(1) of the PACE ACT 1984 states
that a police officer may enter and search... any premises... occupied or controlled... by a person
under arrest for an indictable offence."
Can the search also take place before the arrested person is taken to the police station? -
CORRECT ANSWER - YES, EG: if a person has stolen lipstick at home, along with her
purchased ones, she could identify which ones are stolen.
Who authorises SECTION 18? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rank of Inspector or above and
is given in writing - normally obtained in advance of the search.
What must the authorising officer be satisfied by? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Necessary
grounds exist
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
When can you use S18? - CORRECT ANSWER - Any premises associated with a suspect
arrested for an indictable offence can be searched.
Does the search have to be authorised? - CORRECT ANSWER - YES
Why is this power of search useful? - CORRECT ANSWER - Because a person who has
committed a suspected crime is unlikely to keep items related to that crime in their possession for
long.
What must there be in terms of grounds? - CORRECT ANSWER - Must be reasonable
grounds to suspect that there is evidence on the premises that relates to either the offence in
question, a similar offence OR to some other related indictable offence.
Any items found in relation to S18 - what can be done to them? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Seized and retained for as long as necessary (S22)
Definition of S18 - CORRECT ANSWER - "Section 18(1) of the PACE ACT 1984 states
that a police officer may enter and search... any premises... occupied or controlled... by a person
under arrest for an indictable offence."
Can the search also take place before the arrested person is taken to the police station? -
CORRECT ANSWER - YES, EG: if a person has stolen lipstick at home, along with her
purchased ones, she could identify which ones are stolen.
Who authorises SECTION 18? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rank of Inspector or above and
is given in writing - normally obtained in advance of the search.
What must the authorising officer be satisfied by? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Necessary
grounds exist
