Skip to Content

Stop and Search Laws: Proposed Changes and Public Debate.

Police powers to stop and search are under review, with calls for expanded use to tackle knife crime—raising questions about rights, safeguards, and discrimination.

In response to rising knife crime, police chiefs have proposed changes to stop and search laws. Under current legislation—primarily the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)—officers must have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is carrying illegal items before conducting a search.

Critics argue that the current system is both ineffective and discriminatory. Statistics show that Black individuals are disproportionately stopped, while conviction rates remain low. Knife crime is often linked to poverty, mental health, and lack of opportunity—not ethnicity itself.

Proposed Changes Include:

- Lowering the threshold for suspicion in designated areas.

- Expanding use of Section 60 notices, which allow searches without reasonable grounds in anticipation of violence.

- Introducing education programmes for first-time knife offenders instead of prosecution.

Under the new proposals:

- Officers would still need to record the reason for each search.

-Justification requirements may be relaxed in high-risk zones.

- Social media triggers and gang intelligence may inform deployment.

Political Context: The Prime Minister opposed relaxing stop-and-search laws during her tenure as Home Secretary. However, her successor, Sajid Javid, supported expanded powers in response to public concern. The debate continues over whether increased powers reduce crime or erode civil liberties.

Why It Matters:

Safety vs. Rights: Balancing public protection with individual freedoms.

Transparency: Ensuring searches are recorded and reviewed.

Effectiveness: Evaluating whether expanded powers lead to meaningful reductions in violence.

Disclaimer: Solicitors.com is not a firm of solicitors. Content on this site is not legal advice and should not replace consultation with a regulated solicitor. We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information; however, no content is guaranteed to be completely accurate. Using this site does not establish a client relationship.

Feedback: Is there anything incorrect or missing on this page? Amendments may be accredited—please email us.

Stop and Search Laws: Proposed Changes and Public Debate.
Image Description
related news
recent articles
Double Jeopardy Law

What is Double Jeopardy? and is it still Law in the UK?..

link

Discrimination at work | Age

Discrimination at work.
A person must not be treated differently to any other employee because of their .....

Finding a valuable item.

Finding a valuable item.
Every now and then someone finds a stash of coins or jewellery that is 100's of years old, may have been lost, buried as part of a ce..

Handling Stolen Goods

What is meant by 'handling stolen goods'...

What is a Section 60 notice?

Over 2000 section 60 notices have been issued in London last year..

link

Digital Crime ‘the new front line’.

The Law Commission has called for a full review of the law dealing with digital crime...

Criminal Law

..

Stalking and Harassment.

Recent report uncovers failings by the police and prosecution service...

Stop and Search Laws to be changed?

Police Chiefs are calling for a change in the 'stop and search' l..

link

Modern Slavery Law

Modern Slavery Law.
Passed in 2015 by the Government the Modern Slavery Act is designed to prevent and prosecute any act of slavery, included within the act is..

Reporting a Crime.

If the crime is ongoing call 999, you should not put yours or anyone else’s safety at risk by taking action yourself...

Cautions, warnings and penalty notices.

Police cautions and warnings are the same and can be issued to anyone over the age of ten for minor offences, whilst this does not count as a conviction it can..

Image Description
Is there anything wrong with this page? - any amendments will receive accreditation - email us

Solicitors.com are not a firm of solicitors, and any content on the site should not be used in substitute for obtaining Legal advice from a solicitor regulated in the UK, Solicitors.com recommends that you contact a firm of solicitors to discuss your individual legal requirement. Whilst we strive to bring you accurate up to date content, all content on this site is not legal advice and is not guaranteed to be correct. Use of this site does not create a client relationship.

Information by area of law
Back to top