# Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984/Part V

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Part V Questioning and Treatment of Persons by Police
Abolition of certain powers of constables to search persons. 53.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, there shall cease to have effect any Act (including a local Act) passed before this Act in so far as it authorises—
    (a) any search by a constable of a person in police detention at a police station; or
    (b) an intimate search of a person by a constable;
and any rule of common law which authorises a search such as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above is abolished.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1)(a) above shall affect paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 3 to the 1984 c. 8.Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.
Searches of detained persons. 54.—(1) The custody officer at a police station shall ascertain and record or cause to be recorded everything which a person has with him when he is—
    (a) brought to the station after being arrested elsewhere or after being committed to custody by an order or sentence of a court; or
    (b) arrested at the station after—
       (i) having attended voluntarily there; or
       (ii) having accompanied a constable there without having been arrested.
​(2) In the case of an arrested person the record shall be made as part of his custody record.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, a custody officer may seize and retain any such thing or cause any such thing to be seized and retained.
(4) Clothes and personal effects may only be seized if the custody officer—
    (a) believes that the person from whom they are seized may use them—
       (i) to cause physical injury to himself or any other person;
       (ii) to damage property;
       (iii) to interfere with evidence; or
       (iv) to assist him to escape; or
    (b) has reasonable grounds for believing that they may be evidence relating to an offence.
(5) Where anything is seized, the person from whom it is seized shall be told the reason for the seizure unless he is—
    (a) violent or likely to become violent; or
    (b) incapable of understanding what is said to him.
(6) Subject to subsection (7) below, a person may be searched if the custody officer considers it necessary to enable him to carry out his duty under subsection (1) above and to the extent that the custody officer considers necessary for that purpose.
(7) An intimate search may not be conducted under this section.
(8) A search under this section shall be carried out by a constable.
(9) The constable carrying out a search shall be of the same sex as the person searched.
Intimate searches. 55.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, if an officer of at least the rank of superintendent has reasonable grounds for believing—
    (a) that a person who has been arrested and is in police detention may have concealed on him anything which—
       (i) he could use to cause physical injury to himself or others; and
       (ii) he might so use while he is in police detention or in the custody of a court; or
    (b) that such a person—
       (i) may have a Class A drug concealed on him; and ​
       (ii) was in possession of it with the appropriate criminal intent before his arrest,
he may authorise such a search of that person.
(2) An officer may not authorise an intimate search of a person for anything unless he has reasonable grounds for believing that it cannot be found without his being intimately searched.
(3) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (1) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(4) An intimate search which is only a drug offence search shall be by way of examination by a suitably qualified person.
(5) Except as provided by subsection (4) above, an intimate search shall be by way of examination by a suitably qualified person unless an officer of at least the rank of superintendent considers that this is not practicable.
(6) An intimate search which is not carried out as mentioned in subsection (5) above shall be carried out by a constable.
(7) A constable may not carry out an intimate search of a person of the opposite sex.
(8) No intimate search may be carried out except—
    (a) at a police station;
    (b) at a hospital;
    (c) at a registered medical practitioner’s surgery; or
    (d) at some other place used for medical purposes.
(9) An intimate search which is only a drug offence search may not be carried out at a police station.
(10) If an intimate search of a person is carried out, the custody record relating to him shall state—
    (a) which parts of his body were searched; and
    (b) why they were searched.
(11) The information required to be recorded by subsection (10) above shall be recorded as soon as practicable after the completion of the search.
(12) The custody officer at a police station may seize and retain anything which is found on an intimate search of a person, or cause any such thing to be seized and retained—
    (a) if he believes that the person from whom it is seized may use it—
       (i) to cause physical injury to himself or any other person;
       (ii) to damage property; ​
       (iii) to interfere with evidence; or
       (iv) to assist him to escape; or
    (b) if he has reasonable grounds for believing that it may
be evidence relating to an offence.
(13) Where anything is seized under this section, the person from whom it is seized shall be told the reason for the seizure unless he is-
    (a) violent or likely to become violent; or
    (b) incapable of understanding what is said to him.
(14) Every annual report-
    (a) under section 12 of the 1964 c. 48.Police Act 1964; or
    (b) made by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis,
shall contain information about searches under this section which have been carried out in the area to which the report relates during the period to which it relates.
(15) The information about such searches shall include-
    (a) the total number of searches;
    (b) the number of searches conducted by way of examination by a suitably qualified person;
    (c) the number of searches not so conducted but conducted in the presence of such a person; and
    (d) the result of the searches carried out.
(16) The information shall also include, as separate items-
    (a) the total number of drug offence searches; and
    (b) the result of those searches.
(17) In this section-
    “the appropriate criminal intent” means an intent to
commit an offence under-
       (a) section 5(3) of the 1971 c. 38.Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (possession of controlled drug with intent to supply to another); or
       (b) section 68(2) of the 1979 c. 2.Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (exportation etc. with intent to evade a prohibition or restriction);
    “Class A drug” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(1)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971;
    “drug offence search” means an intimate search for a Class A drug which an officer has authorised by virtue of subsection (1)(b) above; and
    “suitably qualified person” means
       (a) a registered medical practitioner; or
       (b) a registered nurse.
​Right to have someone informed when arrested. 56.—(1) Where a person has been arrested and is being held in custody in a police station or other premises, he shall be entitled, if he so requests, to have one friend or relative or other person who is known to him or who is likely to take an interest in his welfare told, as soon as is practicable except to the extent that delay is permitted by this section, that he has been arrested and is being detained there.
(2) Delay is only permitted—
    (a) in the case of a person who is in police detention for a serious arrestable offence; and
    (b) if an officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorises it.
(3) In any case the person in custody must be permitted to exercise the right conferred by subsection (1) above within 36 hours from the relevant time, as defined in section 41(2) above.
(4) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (2) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(5) An officer may only authorise delay where he has reasonable grounds for believing that telling the named person of the arrest—
    (a) will lead to interference with or harm to evidence connected with a serious arrestable offence or interference with or physical injury to other persons; or
    (b) will lead to the alerting of other persons suspected of having committed such an offence but not yet arrested for it; or
    (c) will hinder the recovery of any property obtained as a result of such an offence.
(6) If a delay is authorised—
    (a) the detained person shall be told the reason for it; and
    (b) the reason shall be noted on his custody record.
(7) The duties imposed by subsection (6) above shall be performed as soon as is practicable.
(8) The rights conferred by this section on a person detained at a police station or other premises are exercisable whenever he is transferred from one place to another; and this section applies to each subsequent occasion on which they are exercisable as it applies to the first such occasion.
(9) There may be no further delay in permitting the exercise of the right conferred by subsection (1) above once the reason for authorising delay ceases to subsist.
​(10) In the foregoing provisions of this section references to a person who has been arrested include references to a person who has been detained under the terrorism provisions and “arrest” includes detention under those provisions.
(11) In its application to a person who has been arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions—
    (a) subsection (2)(a) above shall have effect as if for the words “for a serious arrestable offence” there were substituted the words “under the terrorism provisions”;
    (b) subsection (3) above shall have effect as if for the words from “within” onwards there were substituted the words “before the end of the period beyond which he may no longer be detained without the authority of the Secretary of State”; and
    (c) subsection (5) above shall have effect as if at the end there were added “or
          (d) will lead to interference with the gathering of information about the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; or
          (e) by alerting any person, will make it more difficult-
             (i) to prevent an act of terrorism; or
             (ii) to secure the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any person in connection with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.”.
Additional rights of children and young persons. 1933 c. 12. 57. The following subsections shall be substituted for section 34(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933—
       “(2) Where a child or young person is in police detention, such steps as are practicable shall be taken to ascertain the identity of a person responsible for his welfare.
       (3) If it is practicable to ascertain the identity of a person responsible for the welfare of the child or young person, that person shall be informed, unless it is not practicable to do so—
          (a) that the child or young person has been arrested;
          (b) why he has been arrested; and
          (c) where he is being detained.
       (4) Where information falls to be given under subsection (3) above, it shall be given as soon as it is practicable to do so.
       (5) For the purposes of this section the persons who may be responsible for the welfare of a child or young person are—
          (a) his parent or guardian; or ​
          (b) any other person who has for the time being assumed responsibility for his welfare.
       (6) If it is practicable to give a person responsible for the welfare of the child or young person the information required by subsection (3) above, that person shall be given it as soon as it is practicable to do so.
       (7) If it appears that at the time of his arrest a supervision order, as defined in section 11 of the 1969 c. 54.Children and Young Persons Act 1969, is in force in respect of him, the person responsible for his supervision shall also be informed as described in subsection (3) above as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so.
       (8) The reference to a parent or guardian in subsection (5) above is
          (a) in the case of a child or young person in the care of a local authority, a reference to that authority; and
          (b) in the case of a child or young person in the care of a voluntary organisation in which parental rights and duties with respect to him are vested by virtue of a resolution under section 64(1) of the 1980 c. 5.Child Care Act 1980, a reference to that organisation.
       (9) The rights conferred on a child or young person by subsections (2) to (8) above are in addition to his rights under section 56 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
       (10) The reference in subsection (2) above to a child or young person who is in police detention includes a reference to a child or young person who has been detained under the terrorism provisions; and subsection (3) above “arrest” includes such detention.
       (11) In subsection (10) above “the terrorism provisions” has the meaning assigned to it by section 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984”.
Access to legal advice. 58.—(1) A person arrested and held in custody in a police station or other premises shall be entitled, if he so requests, to consult a solicitor privately at any time.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, a request under subsection (1) above and the time at which it was made shall be recorded in the custody record.
(3) Such a request need not be recorded in the custody record of a person who makes it at a time while he is at a court after being charged with an offence.
​(4) If a person makes such a request, he must be permitted to consult a solicitor as soon as is practicable except to the extent that delay is permitted by this section.
(5) In any case he must be permitted to consult a solicitor within 36 hours from the relevant time, as defined in section 41(2) above.
(6) Delay in compliance with a request is only permitted—
    (a) in the case of a person who is in police detention for a serious arrestable offence; and
    (b) if an officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorises it.
(7) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (6) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(8) An officer may only authorise delay where he has reasonable grounds for believing that the exercise of the right conferred by subsection (1) above at the time when the person detained desires to exercise it—
    (a) will lead to interference with or harm to evidence connected with a serious arrestable offence or interference with or physical injury to other persons; or
    (b) will lead to the alerting of other persons suspected of having committed such an offence but not yet arrested for it; or
    (c) will hinder the recovery of any property obtained as a result of such an offence.
(9) If delay is authorised—
    (a) the detained person shall be told the reason for it; and
    (b) the reason shall be noted on his custody record.
(10) The duties imposed by subsection (9) above shall be performed as soon as is practicable.
(11) There may be no further delay in permitting the exercise of the right conferred by subsection (1) above once the reason for authorising delay ceases to subsist.
(12) The reference in subsection (1) above to a person arrested includes a reference to a person who has been detained under the terrorism provisions.
(13) In the application of this section to a person who has been arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions—
    (a) subsection (5) above shall have effect as if for the words from “within” onwards there were substituted the ​words “before the end of the period beyond which he may no longer be detained without the authority of the Secretary of State”;
    (b) subsection (6)(a) above shall have effect as if for the words “for a serious arrestable offence” there were substituted the words “under the terrorism provisions”; and
    (c) subsection (8) above shall have effect as if at the end. there were added “or
          (d) will lead to interference with the gathering of information about the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; or
          (e) by alerting any person, will make it more difficult-
             (i) to prevent an act of terrorism; or
             (ii) to secure the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any person in connection with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.”.
(14) If an officer of appropriate rank has reasonable grounds for believing that, unless he gives a direction under subsection (15) below, the exercise by a person arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions of the right conferred by subsection (1) above will have any of the consequences specified in subsection (8) above (as it has effect by virtue of subsection (13) above), he may give a direction under that subsection.
(15) A direction under this subsection is a direction that a person desiring to exercise the right conferred by subsection (1) above may only consult a solicitor in the sight and hearing of a qualified officer of the uniformed branch of the force of which the officer giving the direction is a member.
(16) An officer is qualified for the purpose of subsection (15) above if—
    (a) he is of at least the rank of inspector; and
    (b) in the opinion of the officer giving the direction he has no connection with the case.
(17) An officer is of appropriate rank to give a direction under subsection (15) above if he is of at least the rank of Commander or Assistant Chief Constable.
(18) A direction under subsection (15) above shall cease to have effect once the reason for giving it ceases to subsist.
​Legal aid for persons at police stations. 1982 c. 44. 59. In section 1 of the Legal Aid Act 1982 (duty solicitors)—
    (a) in subsection (1) the following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph (a)—
          “(aa) for the making, by such committees, of arrangements whereby advice and assistance under section 1 of the principal Act is provided for persons—
             (i) such as are mentioned in section 29 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; or
             (ii) arrested and held in custody who-
                (i) exercise the right to consult a solicitor conferred on them by section 58(1) of that Act; or
                (ii) are permitted to consult a representative of a solicitor; and”;
    (b) in paragraph (b) after the word “representation” there shall be inserted the words “or advice and assistance”;
    (c) the following subsection shall be inserted after that subsection—
          “(1A) A scheme under section 15 of the principal Act which relates to advice and representation at magistrates’ courts may provide that arrangements made under it may be so framed as to preclude solicitors from providing such advice and representation if they do not also provide advice and assistance in pursuance of arrangements made by virtue of a scheme under that section which relates to the provision of advice and assistance for persons such as are mentioned in section 29 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and for persons arrested and held in custody.”; and
    (d) in subsection (5) for the words “such arrangements as are mentioned in subsection (1) above” there shall be substituted the words “arrangements made under subsection (1) above for the provision of advice and representation at the court”.
Tape-recording of interviews. 60.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State—
    (a) to issue a code of practice in connection with the tape-recording of interviews of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences which are held by police officers at police stations; and
    (b) to make an order requiring the tape-recording of interviews of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences, or of such descriptions of criminal ​offences as may be specified in the order, which are so held, in accordance with the code as it has effect for the time being.
(2) An order under subsection (1) above shall be made by statutory instrument and shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Fingerprinting. 61.—(1) Except as provided by this section no person’s fingerprints may be taken without the appropriate consent.
(2) Consent to the taking of a person’s fingerprints must be in writing if it is given at a time when he is at a police station.
(3) The fingerprints of a person detained at a police station may be taken without the appropriate consent—
    (a) if an officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorises them to be taken; or
    (b) if—
       (i) he has been charged with a recordable offence or informed that he will be reported for such an offence; and
       (ii) he has not had his fingerprints taken in the course of the investigation of the offence by the police.
(4) An officer may only give an authorisation under subsection (3)(a) above if he has reasonable grounds—
    (a) for suspecting the involvement of the person whose fingerprints are to be taken in a criminal offence; and
    (b) for believing that his fingerprints will tend to confirm or disprove his involvement.
(5) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (3)(a) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(6) Any person’s fingerprints may be taken without the appropriate consent if he has been convicted of a recordable offence.
(7) In a case where by virtue of subsection (3) or (6) above a person’s fingerprints are taken without the appropriate consent—
    (a) he shall be told the reason before his fingerprints are taken; and
    (b) the reason shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the fingerprints are taken.
(8) If he is detained at a police station when the fingerprints are taken, the reason for taking them shall be recorded on his custody record.
​(9) Nothing in this section—
    (a) affects any power conferred by paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1971 c. 77.Immigration Act 1971; or
    (b) applies to a person arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions.
Intimate samples 62.—(1) An intimate sample may be taken from a person in police detention only—
    (a) if a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorises it to be taken; and
    (b) if the appropriate consent is given.
(2) An officer may only give an authorisation if he has reasonable grounds—
    (a) for suspecting the involvement of the person from whom the sample is to be taken in a serious arrestable offence; and
    (b) for believing that the sample will tend to confirm or disprove his involvement.
(3) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (1) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(4) The appropriate consent must be given in writing.
(5) Where—
    (a) an authorisation has been given; and
    (b) it is proposed that an intimate sample shall be taken in pursuance of the authorisation,
an officer shall inform the person from whom the sample is to be taken—
    (i) of the giving of the authorisation; and
    (ii) of the grounds for giving it.
(6) The duty imposed by subsection (5)(ii) above includes a duty to state the nature of the offence in which it is suspected that the person from whom the sample is to be taken has been involved.
(7) If an intimate sample is taken from a person—
    (a) the authorisation by virtue of which it was taken ;
    (b) the grounds for giving the authorisation; and
    (c) the fact that the appropriate consent was given,
shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the sample is taken.
(8) If an intimate sample is taken from a person detained at a police station, the matters required to be recorded by subsection (7) above shall be recorded in his custody record.
​(9) An intimate sample, other than a sample of urine or saliva, may only be taken from a person by a registered medical practitioner.
(10) Where the appropriate consent to the taking of an intimate sample from a person was refused without good cause, in any proceedings against that person for an offence—
    (a) the court, in determining—
       (i) whether to commit that person for trial; or
       (ii) whether there is a case to answer; and
    (b) the court or jury, in determining whether that person is guilty of the offence charged,
may draw such inferences from the refusal as appear proper; and the refusal may, on the basis of such inferences, be treated as, or as capable of amounting to, corroboration of any evidence against the person in relation to which the refusal is material.
(11) Nothing in this section affects sections 5 to 12 of the 1972 c. 20.Road Traffic Act 1972.
Other samples. 63.—(1) Except as provided by this section, a non-intimate sample may not be taken from a person without the appropriate consent.
(2) Consent to the taking of a non-intimate sample must be given in writing.
(3) A non-intimate sample may be taken from a person without the appropriate consent if—
    (a) he is in police detention or is being held in custody by the police on the authority of a court; and
    (b) an officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorises it to be taken without the appropriate consent.
(4) An officer may only give an authorisation under subsection (3) above if he has reasonable grounds—
    (a) for suspecting the involvement of the person from whom the sample is to be taken in a serious arrestable offence; and
    (b) for believing that the sample will tend to confirm or disprove his involvement.
(5) An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (3) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.
(6) Where—
    (a) an authorisation has been given; and ​
    (b) it is proposed that a non-intimate sample shall be taken in pursuance of the authorisation,
an officer shall inform the person from whom the sample is to be taken-
    (i) of the giving of the authorisation; and
    (ii) of the grounds for giving it.
(7) The duty imposed by subsection (6)(ii) above includes a duty to state the nature of the offence in which it is suspected that the person from whom the sample is to be taken has been involved.
(8) If a non-intimate sample is taken from a person by virtue of subsection (3) above-
    (a) the authorisation by virtue of which it was taken; and
    (b) the grounds for giving the authorisation,
shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the sample is taken.
(9) If a non-intimate sample is taken from a person detained at a police station, the matters required to be recorded by subsection (8) above shall be recorded in his custody record.
Destruction of fingerprints and samples. 64.—(1) If—
    (a) fingerprints or samples are taken from a person in connection with the investigation of an offence; and
    (b) he is cleared of that offence,
they must be destroyed as soon as is practicable after the conclusion of the proceedings.
(2) If—
    (a) fingerprints or samples are taken from a person in connection with such an investigation; and
    (b) it is decided that he shall not be prosecuted for the offence and he has not admitted it and been dealt with by way of being cautioned by a constable,
they must be destroyed as soon as is practicable after that decision is taken.
(3) If—
    (a) fingerprints or samples are taken from a person in connection with the investigation of an offence; and
    (b) that person is not suspected of having committed the offence,
they must be destroyed as soon as they have fulfilled the purpose for which they were taken.
(4) Proceedings which are discontinued are to be treated as concluded for the purposes of this section.
​(5) If fingerprints are destroyed, any copies of them shall also be destroyed.
(6) A person who asks to be allowed to witness the destruction of his fingerprints or copies of them shall have a right to witness it.
(7) Nothing in this section—
    (a) affects any power conferred by paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1971 c. 77.Immigration Act 1971; or
    (b) applies to a person arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions.
Part V—supplementary. 65. In this Part of this Act—
    “appropriate consent” means—
       (a) in relation to a person who has attained the age of 17 years, the consent of that person;
       (b) in relation to a person who has not attained that age but has attained the age of 14 years, the consent of that person and his parent or guardian; and
       (c) in relation to a person who has not attained the age of 14 years, the consent of his parent or guardian ;
    “fingerprints” includes palm prints;
    “intimate sample” means a sample of blood, semen or any other tissue fluid, urine, saliva or pubic hair, or a swab taken from a person’s body orifice;
    “non-intimate sample” means—
       (a) a sample of hair other than pubic hair;
       (b) a sample taken from a nail or from under a nail;
       (c) a swab taken from any part of a person’s body other than a body orifice;
       (d) a footprint or a similar impression of any part of a person’s body other than a part of his hand;
    “the terrorism provisions” means—
       (a) section 12(1) of the 1984 c. 8.Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984; and
       (b) any provision conferring a power of arrest or detention and contained in an order under section 13 of that Act; and
    “terrorism” has the meaning assigned to it by section 14(1) of that Act.