Keeping People Safe is what we do:
We have created this guide as a place for children and young people to access further information, support and signposting about issues surrounding Stop and Search.
Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton , Police Service of Northern IrelandChildren and young people have a huge contribution to make to community safety today, but we recognise that they also have a greater role to play in the future of community safety.
To learn more about Stop and Search, please explore the information provided in the dropdown sections below.
Stop and Search is a power that allows police to search individuals they suspect of carrying prohibited, stolen or evidential items without first arresting them.
"Stop and Search can play an important role in the detection and prevention of crime and using the powers fairly makes them more effective."
"The primary purpose of Stop and Search powers is to enable officer to allay or confirm suspicions about individuals without using a power of arrest."
PACE (NI) Order 1989 1.3, 1.4.
Police use this power to:
Police will use a piece of legislation which grants them the right, under certain circumstances, to search for specific stolen, prohibited or evidential items at specific times or places. Some of these powers require reasonable grounds for suspicion and some do not.
Legislation includes:
Most, but not all, stop and search powers require reasonable grounds for suspicion (for those that don’t a basis must exist). For those powers that require reasonable suspicion the officer must genuinely suspect they will find the item they are looking for. Every stop and search is different but the officer must clearly communicate their reasonable grounds or basis to the person they are searching.
Reasonable grounds to suspect should be based on reliable information or facts. This could include a persons behaviours or actions which leads police to suspect they possess a specified item on them.
Examples of reasonable grounds can include:
Police must make reasonable efforts to help you understand the grounds.
Please note – this list is not exhaustive.
It could be drugs, weapons, stolen items, or something that could be used to commit an offence (e.g. crowbar, spray paint).
What they are searching for depends on the power used by the officer for example:
Police can ask general questions about your behaviour or recent movements to work out if your behaviour, that at first seemed suspicious, may be explained away by you as innocent.
These questions are not an interview. They are questions to work out if the initial grounds still stand or are no longer relevant.
The officers should clearly communicate to you why they are asking those questions.
If your explanation satisfies the officer then you will be told you are free to go. As no search has taken place there will be no search record made.
Your safety and welfare is our priority.
If you are under 18 let the officers know.
If you have a disability or a communication need please just let the officers know.
Body worn video: Police must use body worn video to record all Stop and Search encounters which also means those encounters involving children, young people and vulnerable persons. They will tell you that they have turned the camera on and a red light will show.
Police can search any person of any age but when Stop and Search powers are used on a child (which means anyone under the age of 18) it must be in the best interests of the child, taking into consideration that exploitation of the child may be a factor in the case. The officers reasons for carrying out this search must stand up to scrutiny in law.
The officer will make a record of the search which will include, date of search & stop search reference number. A Stop Search information card should be handed to you. This information card includes a QR code to signpost you to this further support and information.
You can attend a police station up to 1 year from the date of search and request a full copy of the search record. Just bring your information card with you or recall the date, time and location of the stop.
Officers are trained to communicate to the person stopped:
You are allowed reasonable time to understand what is happening (in serious life threatening cases police may react quickly and sternly to ensure the safety of the public and themselves but will explain all to you when it is safe to do so).
You are allowed to ask questions before, during and after the search eg:
If you don’t understand please just speak up!
An appropriate adult may be considered necessary to assist with communication.
PACE (NI) Code of Practice A is a document which outlines how police Stop and Search powers must be used.
It explains that the powers, “Must be used fairly, responsibly, with respect for people being searched and without discrimination on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion, racial group, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. The Chief Constable should ensure that in the exercise of their functions, officers have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of all persons under the age of 18 and that the decision to stop and search a child must be the best interests of the child and in compliance with obligations under Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.” PACE (NI) Code A, 1.1.
Further details
PACE Code A (justice-ni.gov.uk)
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (unicef.org.uk)
Detailed search: This is used when the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is carrying illegal, stolen or prohibited items on their person.
Police can only search outer clothing, pockets, and bags in public. They can put their hand inside shoes, socks, and headgear if they believe something is concealed.
If you are uncomfortable ask for more privacy.
For this detailed search, except in cases of emergency risk to life, you should be searched by an officer of the same gender.
A more thorough search can take place in the back of a police van or somewhere out of public view if the officer has suspicion that articles are being concealed on your person.
A strip search which can involve the removal of all clothing can take place in a police station. This must be done out of public view and by an officer of the same gender without any officer of the opposite gender being able to see. Note - a strip search is a search involving the removal of more than outer clothing and outer clothing, includes shoes and socks.
You have the right:
You should understand that:
You are detained – you must remain until the officer tells you that the search is complete or that you are free to leave, if no search takes place.
Physically resisting the search could be seen as an offence of resisting police or of assault on police (depending on the circumstances).
Police can use reasonable force to carry out the search if you physically resist them. This could include the use of handcuffs or other physical restraint.
For your protection you or a friend may record this search on a device. Be careful though not to obstruct the officer in their duties in an effort to get the footage. It is an offence to obstruct the search and you may be prosecuted for that. Record close enough to capture your footage but not so close as to get in the way.
If police find the item they were searching for on your person you will be subject to a police investigation which you could be prosecuted for. At this stage you are obliged to provide your name, date of birth and address. Failure to do so could lead to your arrest.
We know this is stressful. Try to:
If you have been stop searched by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it’s really important that you take the time to stop and think about how you feel now.
We expect that a stop search was not easy for you.
We know that police would have given you a lot of information which you may feel overwhelmed by. You may have felt scared and things may be playing on your mind since.
You should talk about your experiences.
There are a number of support services out there to help you after being stopped and searched.
Y.stop is a stop search project which provides great practical advice on how to feel confident and empowered during a stop and search encounter with police. It was created by young people for young people.
If any of the issues raised here have caused upset or distress please reach out to a responsible adult for help. You can also click on the websites below to access further information and support.
We want to know if we haven’t met your expectations. We want to do better next time.
If you believe that you have been treated unfairly you can report this. The Police Ombudsman for NI looks for evidence to decide whether police have acted fairly or not.
They are independent from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
To report a crime or an incident contact us:
Call 999 in an emergency.
Report a non-emergency incident to us online or call us on 101.
Report onlineThe Police Service of Northern Ireland holds events in the community to hear what you have to say about policing and how it affects you. We hope the information in this section addresses some of the feedback we have received from young people.
