Learn about Stop and Search
We are here to serve the public and that’s at the heart of everything we do, this includes using our legal powers of stop and search to investigate suspicions about an individual without having to arrest them. Our stop and search powers mean that we can still detect crime and keep the public safe by searching a person and/or vehicle, without having to make unnecessary arrests.
However, it is important that the community has trust and confidence in how we use our powers of stop and search, therefore, by being open and transparent in educating the public about stop and search we aim to improve that trust and confidence.
Below, you can watch a series of six videos that explain all about stop and search.
Stop and search is a legal power, that allows officers to search a person and/or vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a person is carrying illegal drugs, weapons, stolen items, or something to commit a crime. It is not an arrest, but the person is detained.
Stop and searches are lawful and rights respecting when they follow PLAN B, meaning they meet the criteria of: Proportionality, Legality, Accountability, Necessity, and Best (decision at the time).
Video
Watch the Introduction video on YouTube
A police officer or police community support officer (PCSO) can stop and talk (also known as stop and account/encounter) with a member of the public at any time. But only a police officer (including special constables) can stop and search someone.
Before the stop and search, an officer must tell the person to be searched important information, that is remembered as GO WISELY, which cover:
- Grounds – Why the person is being searched?
- Object – What are they looking for?
- Warrant Number – This is our proof of identity and authority, if in plain clothes the card must be shown by the officer. If the officer is in uniform, they don’t have to show the card but a person being stopped an d searched can ask to see the card.
- Identification – The officer’s name and collar number.
- Station – The police station where the officer is based.
- Entitlement – A person is entitled to a copy of the stop search paperwork within 3 months of the search. In Cambridgeshire, it can be sent out by email or text if you provide those details to the officer, or you can collect it from a Cambridgeshire police station enquiry office.
- Legal Power Utilised – This is the legislation the officer is searching you under, the most common being Section 1 of PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) or Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- You are Detained – Individuals should be told you are detained, once this has been said they the officer can use reasonable force if you do not comply or try to run away.
Note GO WISELY can be given in any order.
Video
Watch the Levels of Power video on YouTube
There must be an objective basis upon which the officer forms suspicion and builds a combination of numerous reasonable grounds.
When building their reasonable grounds, officers may consider SHACKS which covers what they: See, Hear, Actions, Conversation, Knowledge, and Smells.
Video
Watch the Reasonable Grounds video on YouTube
When stop and search powers are used intelligently and correctly, it can lead to community cohesion and build trust. However, use of force, including handcuffing a person, may be used if needed by the officer.
Video
All stop and searches are recorded on Body Worn Camera by all officer’s present. Then an officer will also complete a written record on TuServ; it is from this written record a receipt can be generated.
The officer will ask the person being searched some information including: their name, their date of birth and/or age, their address, and their self-defined ethnicity - all of these questions are voluntary to answer. However, it may be harder to generate a receipt afterwards without some of these details, unless you know the date, approximate time and officer’s name or collar who searched you.
A stop and search record is created even if the person is subsequently arrested.
Video
All stop and searches (Body Worn Video and written records) are reviewed by the officer’s supervisor. They may also be subject to an internal dip sample review by another supervisor. Plus, the written grounds of every stop and search within Cambridgeshire are reviewed by the Force Lead for stop and search. Find out more about Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Internal Review Processes.
Any stop and searches may also be chosen to be reviewed by the Independent Community Scrutiny Panel for Stop and Search – learn more about the Community Scrutiny Panel.
The videos selected by the Community Scrutiny Panel Chair may also be scrutinised by others members of the public during Community Conversations (Scrutiny Roadshow) – learn more about Community Conversations
Video
Watch the Supervision video on YouTube