Stop and search

One of the powers that the police can use to detect and prevent crime in the local community is the power of stop and search.

What is stop and search?

This means that police officers can search you or your vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to do so. For example, you may be acting suspiciously, or trying to hide something, or be suspected of carrying an illegal substance or something that could be used as a weapon.

The police are not allowed to stop and search just because of your religion, race, age, the way you look, or the clothes that you're wearing.

What the police have to do

If you are stopped by the police and they want to search you, they must do it in a public place. You may be asked to empty your pockets, open your bag or take off your coat, headgear or gloves so they can make sure you're not hiding any weapons or stolen goods.

First of all, an officer must let you know what their name is and what police station they work at. They also have to tell you why you've been stopped and what they're looking for. Finally, they must record all the details of the stop and search on a form which they will give you a copy of.

The police can only search you further if they have strong evidence that you may be connected with terrorism, or if they think you're using your clothes to hide your identity. If this is the case, you have to be searched out of public view and the officer who performs the search must be the same sex as you.

How to complain

If you think that you've been treated unfairly and feel you've only been stopped and searched because of, for example, your religion, your race, your appearance, or for no particular reason, you can make a complaint to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

The form that you were given when stopped and searched should contain all the details of the officer that stopped you, so you can take your complaint to the Police Ombudsman.