13 Police powers
Stop and search
● Police do this to prevent crime
● Or predict someone is about to commit a crime
● They mainly look for drugs and weapons
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 sets out the law for stop and search
What the police do:
● Their biggest responsibility is to investigate crime and protect the public from criminals
● Gathering evidence
● Deciding whether or not to charge a suspect
● Powers of stop and search
● Powers of arrest
● Powers of detention
Section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Gives the police the right to stop and search people and vehicles in a ‘public place’ if they have reasonable grounds for
suspecting that the person is in possession of (or the vehicle contains) stolen goods or prohibited articles.
, Continued
What is a public?
● The park
● A street
● Places that are open to the public
● City centers
What is reasonable suspicion?
● Reasonable suspicion is 20% suspicion
Things that can cause reasonable suspicion:
● Body language
● Defensive attitude
● What suspect is wearing/bags
● Strange behaviour
What are stolen goods or prohibited articles?
● Weapons, fireworks or any weapon that could be used to commit a crime
Stop and search
● Police do this to prevent crime
● Or predict someone is about to commit a crime
● They mainly look for drugs and weapons
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 sets out the law for stop and search
What the police do:
● Their biggest responsibility is to investigate crime and protect the public from criminals
● Gathering evidence
● Deciding whether or not to charge a suspect
● Powers of stop and search
● Powers of arrest
● Powers of detention
Section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Gives the police the right to stop and search people and vehicles in a ‘public place’ if they have reasonable grounds for
suspecting that the person is in possession of (or the vehicle contains) stolen goods or prohibited articles.
, Continued
What is a public?
● The park
● A street
● Places that are open to the public
● City centers
What is reasonable suspicion?
● Reasonable suspicion is 20% suspicion
Things that can cause reasonable suspicion:
● Body language
● Defensive attitude
● What suspect is wearing/bags
● Strange behaviour
What are stolen goods or prohibited articles?
● Weapons, fireworks or any weapon that could be used to commit a crime
