Stop & Search and Stop & Account

What is 'stop and account'?

'Stop and account' is when a police officer or police community support officer (PCSO) stops you and asks you:

• What you are doing;
• Why you are in an area or where you are going;
• Or what you are carrying.

A PCSO must be in uniform, but a police officer does not have to be. The Police officer must show you their identity card (warrant card) if they are not in uniform.

A police officer or PCSO does not have the power to force you to stay with them if you are stopped and asked to account for your actions. However, if a police officer suspects from the stop and account that you might be carrying drugs or a weapon, he/she may require you to stay to be searched.

What is a 'stop and search'?

'Stop and search' is when a police officer stops you and searches you, your clothes and anything you are carrying. In some police force areas, Chief Constables give powers to PCSOs to carry out some types of stop and searches, but in Norfolk only a police officer (not a PCSO) can search you. You can be stopped and searched when an officer has a good reason to suspect you are carrying:

• Drugs, weapons or stolen propety;
• Or items which could be used to commit a crime or act of terrorism, or to cause criminal damage.

There are times, however, when police officers can search anyone within a specific area, for example:

• When there is evidence that serious violence could take place there
• Or where a terrorist threat has been identified

Searches can only be carried out in a public place, unless the police believe you have committed a crime, in which case you can be searched anywhere.

What if I am in a vehicle?

Your vehicle can be stopped by an officer at any time and you may be asked to show your driving documents, such as your licence. The police can search your vehicle if they have good reason to think it contains:

• Stolen goods
• Drugs
• Weapons

Know your rights...

If you are stopped by the police, you should be treated fairly and with respect. To find out more about your Stop and Account/ Search rights, please read the Police Stops Information Leaflet.

What can you do if you are unhappy about how you are treated?

If you are unhappy with how you were treated, you can complain. You can get advice about how to make a complaint from:

• Norfolk Constabulary, at a police station or telephone 101
• Norfolk Police Authority on 01953 424455
• A Citizens' Advice Bureau
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission
• The Independent Police Complaints Commission
• A solicitor.

Your views and experiences

If you have any views or experiences of police stops in Norfolk, the Police Authority would be pleased to hear from you. This will support the Members of our Performance and Engagement Committee in their ongoing monitoring on Norfolk Constabulary's use of Stop and Account/ Search. Please use the online feedback form to register your feedback.

Stop and Search Information

1. Stop and Search Data for Norfolk

   This report provides an overview of the Police Stops statistics for the 12-month period January 2011 - December 2011.

2. Police Stops Information Leaflet

   This leaflet provides an overview of an individual's rights if he or she is stopped by a PCSO or police officer and asked to account for his or her actions, or stopped and searched by a police officer.

3. Police Stops - Know Your Rights card

   This credit-card size, fold out leaflet summarises an individual's rights when he or she is stopped by a police officer.

4. Stop and Search - Know Your Rights card

   This credit-card size, fold out leaflet summarises an individual's rights when he or she is stopped and searched by a police officer.

5. Stop and Search Data for Norfolk

   This report provides an overview of Police Stops statistics for the 12-month period July 2010 to June 2011.

6. Norfolk Police Authority's Commitment to Ensuring Fair Use of Stop and Search

   Stop and Search can help the police detect crime, make communities safer and increase public confidence in policing. But, as highlighted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s review of police use of stops powers across England and Wales earlier this year, disproportionate and unfair use of stop and search can alienate communities and have a negative impact on public confidence levels.

   Norfolk Police Authority is committed to ensuring that police stops are used by Norfolk Constabulary in a fair and appropriate manner, and that all individuals stopped by a police officer or PCSO are treated fairly and with respect.

   To find out more about Stop and Search/Stop and Account, and how the Authority meets its responsibilities for monitoring the use of Stops by Norfolk Constabulary, click the headline above.

7. Stop Search Data for Norfolk

   This document summarises the latest Stop Search data for Norfolk.

8. Monitoring the use of Stop and Search in Norfolk

   This document summarises the Authority's approach to monitoring the use of Stop Search in Norfolk.

9. Stop & Search Practices - Thematic Review

   The Police Authority, along with the Norfolk Constabulary and the Norwich and Norfolk Race Equality Council, today publish a review of the use of the Stop and Search in Norfolk.

10. All Stops - Citizen Panel Report

    During 2006 the Police Authority asked Norfolk Citizens Panel if they had been stopped and searched. There are 7182 panel members, 4452 of these responded to the survey containing these questions. The results are accessible via clicking the above link.

11. Stop Search Explained

    This is a National Community Panel Report on Stop Search.

12. Use of Stop Search in Norfolk

    This is the latest report from the Chief Constable, to the Scrutiny and Audit Committee, on the use of Stop Search and Stop and Account in Norfolk.