When you are stopped and/or searched

Police officers are able to stop and speak to any person at any time in the course of their duties. However, you can only be searched where there are proper grounds to do so - for example, when a police officer has reasonable suspicions that you have possession of stolen or unlawful goods or where a senior police officer anticipates serious disorder or terrorist activity.

When you are stopped and asked to account for your actions the police officer should record the following; 

• Your name or a description of you, including your self defined ethnicity.
• Why you were stopped.
• When and where you were stopped.
• What the outcome of the stop was.
• The name and number of the officer who stopped you
• You will then be entitled to a copy of this record

How will they search me?

Before searching you, the police officer must normally tell you:

• Their name.
• The police station they work at.
• Why they chose you.
• What they are looking for.
• If the officer is not in uniform, they must show you their identity card.

In a public place

If you are in a public place, you only have to take off:

• Your coat or jacket.
• Your gloves.

The police can only ask you to take off more than this or anything you wear for religious reasons, such as a face scarf, if they take you somewhere private, eg a police station. This does not mean you are being arrested. In this case, the officer who searches you must be of the same sex as you.