“Consider critically police powers to stop and search suspects. Evaluate the safeguards that exist in relation to stop and search powers from the perspective of members: (a) Of the public; and (b) Police officers ‘Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984’, Code A,”

Introduction

Stop and search powers are powers the police can use to stop and search members of the public or a vehicle. Officers can conduct an investigation into their suspicions, without having to arrest or detain someone.  Police officers have the legal authority to stop and search a person under,

Criminal Justice Act and Public Order Act 1994 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

There are many sources of stop and search powers that the police officers can use. These include powers under the Aviation Security Act 1982, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Terrorism Act 2000 and of course Criminal Justice Act and Public Order Act 1994 and PACE 1984.   The common basis for use of a stop and search power used by a police officer is reasonable suspicion. It explains in PACE 1984, that there must be an objective basis for that suspicion based on facts, information, and…(short extract)