Selecteer een taal▼ Name Home News Your Area Our Careers Online Services Help & Advice Contact Us About Us Home Help & Advice Stop and Search Stop and Search Stop and search is a tactic used by the police to detect crime and make communities safer. Police officers can stop and search anyone if they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. If there’s a Section 60 in place officers can stop and search anyone in a specific area and time frame, without needing to give reasonable grounds. Lancashire Constabulary has signed up to the Best Use of Stop & Search Scheme, which helps us to give greater transparency, involve communities, and support a more intelligence-led approach. The video below explains why we need to stop and search, and what your rights are. Police officers also have powers to stop and search a person if they reasonably suspect them to be a terrorist, to find out if they are carrying anything that would confirm that they are a terrorist. Uniformed police officers also have powers to stop and search pedestrians, vehicles and their occupants to prevent acts of terrorism. These powers are granted to the police by Sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Stop and Search Q&A Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions about stop and search. Just click on the question to find the answer. What is stop and search? Who can carry out a stop and search? What are ‘reasonable grounds’? What questions could I be asked in a stop and search? Can I be asked to remove clothing? What are my rights? Can I refuse to be searched? Can my vehicle be searched? What stop and search policies are in place? What isn’t a stop and search? What can I do if I’m unhappy with how I’ve been treated? How can I give positive feedback? What is stop and search? Stop and search is a tactic used by the police to detect crime and make communities safer. You can be stopped and questioned by the police at any time whether you’re on foot or in a vehicle, but can only searched if the officer has reasonable grounds to suggest you’re carrying: Illegal drugs A weapon such as a knife or firearm Stolen property Something that could be used to commit a crime, for example a crowbar. Searches are a community safety tactic and being searched doesn’t mean you’re being arrested. Back to top Who can carry out a stop and search? A stop and search can be carried out by a: Police officer or a Police community support officer (PCSO). A PCSO must be wearing their uniform but a police officer does not have to be, unless they are acting under Section 44 of The Terrorism Act 2000. A police officer must show you their warrant card if they are not in uniform. Back to top What are ‘reasonable grounds?’ Officers need to be able to justify their reason to stop and search someone. This may be based on, but isn’t limited to: Time of day Location. For example, a crime hot spot The way a person is behaving, which they would need to describe in detail Information they’ve received. For example, that someone is regularly carrying weapons or drugs. Grounds aren’t reasonable if they are just based on: A hunch Supposition Stereotyping Someone’s previous convictions Vague local intelligence. For example, ‘local target out at night’ or ‘seen acting secretively’. Back to top What questions could I be asked in a stop and search? A police officer could ask you: What your name is What you’re doing in the area Where you’re going. You don’t have to give the officer your name and address, but it’s helpful for the police if you do and also for you if you wish to complain. Back to top Can I be asked to remove clothing? A police officer can ask you to take off your coat, jacket or gloves. They may also ask you to remove anything you’re wearing for religious reasons, for example a veil or turban. They must take you somewhere out of public view to do this. If the officer wants you to remove more than a jacket or gloves they must be the same sex as you. Back to top What are my rights? Before you or your vehicle are searched, an officer must make all reasonable attempts to ensure that you understand: Their name and/or ID number The police station they work from That you must stay and be searched Why they stopped you, for example if it looks like you’re hiding something What they are looking for, for example drugs or a weapon What law they think you may be breaking Your right to receive a record of the search or a receipt. You should only be detained for as long as is needed to carry out the search. Back to top Can I refuse to be searched? Stop and search isn’t voluntary. If you choose not to co-operate the police can use reasonable force to conduct the search. Officers may want to search: Any bags you’re carrying Your pockets Anything found in your bags or pockets Anywhere you could conceivably conceal a weapon. These powers are granted to the police by the following laws: Section 1 of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Section 47 of the Firearms Act 1968 Section 60 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994. Stop and search is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Code A. Back to top Can my vehicle be searched? Stop and search powers also extend to your vehicle even if it’s left unattended. If this happens the officer will leave a note on or in it, stating that they’ve conducted a search and with the name of the police station they work from. You can apply for a copy of the search record for up to 12 months after the search has taken place. Back to top What stop and search polices are in place? Here are the latest versions of our stop and search policies: Stop and search policy 2015 Back to top What isn’t a stop and search? Officers can confiscate any cigarettes or alcohol in view if you are underage. This is not a stop and search. Back to top What can I do if I’m unhappy with how I’ve been treated? The officer should treat you fairly and with respect. If you’re unhappy with how you’ve been treated, you can lodge a complaint. You can also complain if you feel you were treated differently because of your ethnic background, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or disability. There are several ways you can make a complaint, see our complaints page here. Back to top How can I give positive feedback? You can give us positive feedback on how you were treated on our compliments form. Back to top Accessibility Some of our PDF and Word documents are essential to sharing information. Over the coming months, we are reviewing all our web pages and making the necessary changes to ensure that they are accessible for all. The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to the organisation. However, we recognise that there are several PDF and Word documents that are essential to our organisation and that we have a duty to publish these in a format accessible to all. Alterative formats of all documents on our website are available upon request. You can make a request by emailing our Media and Engagement Department: HQ-MediaAndEngagement@lancashire.police.uk Please make sure you include in your message the following: The name of the document you require in an alternative format The format you require the document in Your name Section 60 – ‘without suspicion searches’ Community Complaint Trigger Ride Along Scheme Countywide Community Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel Stop and Search data Statistics about stop and searches carried out by Lancashire Constabulary Feedback on Stop and Search If you wish to give us feedback on your experiences following a stop and search please email Stop.Search@lancashire.pnn.police.uk Twitter Facebook Tweets by @lancspolice Caught on Camera There are currently no CCTV appeals for this area. 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