Stop and Account - the facts

What is a stop?

There are three different types of stops that you may encounter:

1. STOP - when a police officer or police community support officer stops you in a public place and asks you to account for yourself and may ask you the following questions:

• What you are doing
• Where have you been
• Where you are going
• What you are carrying

2. STOP AND SEARCH - when a police officer stops and then searches you, your clothes and anything you are carrying.

3. VEHICLE - a police officer can stop any vehicle and ask the driver for driving documents. This is not the purpose of stop and search, but you may be given documentation relevant to road traffic matters. It becomes a stop if:

• you or any passengers with you are asked to account for themselves; or
• a search is carried out of the vehicle, you or any passengers with you.

You will not necessarily be searched every time you are stopped. Sometimes you may just be stopped and questioned.

The police officer or police community support officer must explain why you are being stopped and held to account for your actions or presence in an area.

What should I do if I am stopped or/and searched?

Apart from the inconvenience, people may feel irritated that they’ve been stopped when they haven’t done anything wrong – that’s completely understandable. However, the stop or stop and search will be much quicker if a person co-operates with police officers.

It's up to you whether you provide your name and address. You don't have to, but the best advice is that you should co-operate with the police.

Don’t forget that the stop or stop and search must be carried out according to strict rules – the police have responsibility to ensure that people’s rights are protected. Everyone should expect to be treated fairly and responsibly. In almost all cases, an individual should be given a record of the stop or stop and search at the time it happens. The police use these powers to help make the local community safer by disrupting crime – public co-operation is an essential part of that.

How should I react?

Be calm

• Remember, you are not under arrest.
• Don't refuse to be stopped or/and searched.
• The process is not voluntary - the law gives police the authority to stop and search.
• Officers do not need your permission to go through your belongings - if you refuse, you can be searched by force.
• Try to stay calm and don’t be afraid to speak to the officer if you think your rights are being infringed.

^{[source: Metropolitan Police website]}

What you you think? Have your say

Reprezent Radio Reprezent 107.3 is currently running a campaign about the proposed changes to the way 'Stop and Account' is carried out. To cut down on Police paperwork and time Stop and Accounts will no longer be formally recorded (on paper).