Being stopped and searched

[TalkShow Bob]

Yeah, are they really allowed to do that? I thought the police had to have a reason for pulling over a car. I've got to admit in all the years I've been, I've never heard of something like this happening. Sounds terrible. I think you were just unlucky mate.

[paulo999]

Random S&S is NOT a police right. Technically they need a Section 60 to be in force for that. There are rolling section 60s in London, but not elsewhere. "Suspicion of x" alone is not a reason for S&S, not that you'll get much joy out of arguing it on the spot.

[sweaver]

You have to have just cause to pull over a car. I think you would have quite good grounds to go to the IPCC if they pulled you just because you were on your way to Glastonbury. Would be interesting to contest it in court as an illegal search.

[strudders]

Yeah, are they really allowed to do that? I thought the police had to have a reason for pulling over a car. I've got to admit in all the years I've been, I've never heard of something like this happening. Sounds terrible. I think you were just unlucky mate.

[redmosquito]

Yep, they can stop and search anyone these want to. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 s6(1).

A lot of the paperwork they fill out is for your protection so that the police are accountable for their actions. If they just randomly stopped people and didn't record it we would all be pretty screwed.

Oh, if anyone wants to see the code of practice its here http://www.icva.org.uk/site/downloads/PACE...E_Chapter_A.pdf

Guess everyone just has to grin and bear it.

[eFestivals]

I got pulled the other day on the way home.

I asked why they pulled me, and they said It was a random stop to check that the driver of the vehicle was the same as the owner on the Vehicle database. I asked did they think it would not be? and they replied that until they stopped me they could not tell.

I was issued with a stop chit and allowed to go on my way. They did not need to search the vehicle as they said I did not look as though I was carrying anything but they did look into it. Also it helps to have all your doc's photocopied hidden some where so they can be produced.

I think they can only then search the car if they think or have a suspicion that you are carrying or taking drugs etc. A good start would not to smoke weed whilst driving as this is a cert for a search.

Plus the fact it bloody dangerous as well not just to you but more importantly other people around you.

I was suggesting staying off the M5 in Gloucestershire only as a way to avoid the hassle of being stopped in the "let's get the Glasto go-ers" operation that they do every year.

As for what they can and can't do, when it comes down to it, it's all about interpretation, innit? .... No old bill is going to thank you for challenging his authority, and that challenge by itself is often justification for further action.

While I've never been stopped on the M5 like that myself, I've heard enough stories over the years to know that it's hassle for those that are stopped even when completely innocent of any offence.

[.jay.]

all this is pointless, you can argue the toss until your blue in the face as to what the law states but at the end of the day they are the ones with the power and who will be believed and they obviously wouldn't give a reason for stopping you that was illegal, they will just say something like you were driving erratically so they pulled you over and then say they believed you to be under the influence of drugs and so searched the vehicle.

there's always ways around the laws if work withing law enforcement.

they're obviously not going to put on the paperwork "we pulled over the car as we believed the passengers to be going to Glastonbury"

the simple fact is they can do what they want so long as they fill out the paperwork correctly so as to be seen to be abiding to the laws.

at the end of the day we live in a country where police officers can pin a man to the floor of a subway train and shoot him in the head 5 times without first giving a warning, then lie about what they did and have all witnesses dismiss their lies and still be found not guilty of any crimes at all.

so stopping people randomly in their cars and searching them isn't really that big a surprise is it?

[strudders]

I was suggesting staying off the M5 in Gloucestershire only as a way to avoid the hassle of being stopped in the "let's get the Glasto go-ers" operation that they do every year.

As for what they can and can't do, when it comes down to it, it's all about interpretation, innit? .... No old bill is going to thank you for challenging his authority, and that challenge by itself is often justification for further action.

While I've never been stopped on the M5 like that myself, I've heard enough stories over the years to know that it's hassle for those that are stopped even when completely innocent of any offence.

[scudetto_boy]

Hide anything dodgy where the sun don't shine & them remove -in toilet- it when your get it.

[chilli78]

Just had a very brief look through the code of pratice and it seems to say that they can only do it if the believe that you are involved in terrorism or may be carrying an offensive weapon, no mention of drugs.

Plus it also says its illegal for them to do it based on a stereotype, given that they are searching people going to G I would say that's fair grounds for saying they're stereotyping people who are going to the festival.

[strudders]

Hide anything dodgy where the sun don't shine & them remove -in toilet- it when your get it.

[strudders]

it's not much use leaving my stash in the back garden if I want it for the festival, is it?

oh that place where it doesn't shine...