Stop and search

To learn more about your rights and police powers, visit the Police powers to stop and search: your rights page on GOV.UK.

• Where possible the search will be done out of public view in order to minimise any potential embarrassment from the search.
• Officers may ask to see the contents of your pockets as well as other items you may be carrying, such as a bag.
• The officers can also search your vehicle, even if you are not present, but they must leave a notice to say what they have done.
• If you are carrying something illegal, such as a weapon, or the police suspect you have committed a crime, you may be arrested.
• If they do not find anything, a record of the search will be made and you will be offered a receipt.
• All stop searches must be recorded on body worn video, whether the officer is in uniform or plain clothes.

The officer may ask for your name and address, date of birth or some identification.

You do not have to give this information unless the officer suspects you have committed an offence. For example, if something illegal is found during the search.

If you do not provide your details at this time, you may be arrested.

The officer may also ask you to define your ethnicity. Again, you do not have to tell us this. We ask people about their ethnicity so that the fair treatment of different ethnic groups can be monitored, internally and independently, to improve the service we provide.

The ASB Case Review (formerly Community Trigger), ensures we work together to try to resolve ongoing complaints or concerns.

The Independent Scrutiny Panel and the Force stop and search lead will decide whether single complaints will activate the ASB Case Review process.

If the local policing area receives more than one complaint over a 3 month period, the ASB Case Review process will be activated.

If you have a concern about the way the police are using stop and search within your community, you can report a concern about the way the police are using stop and search within your area.

It does not replace the complaints procedure, or your opportunity to complain to your local police station or Independent Police Commission.

All stop and search related complaints and their outcomes, will be published on this page anonymously.

For a chance to increase your understanding of the process and to discuss with officers, any person who makes a stop and search related complaint will be considered to take part in the Ride Along Scheme.

If you believe you were stopped and searched unreasonably, or you were not treated fairly or with respect, you can complain:

• online – Make a complaint against the police
• in person – at your local police station
• to the Citizens Advice Bureau
• to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
• to the Equality and Human Rights Commission
• to a solicitor

To view statistics for stop and search in Avon and Somerset, visit our stop and search statistics page or police.uk.

The use of police powers, including stop and search, is subject to regular scrutiny by the Independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel (ISoPP).

To find out more about the ISoPP, visit the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) website.

In 2024, following consultation with our staff and communities, we published a stop and search policy (PDF), bespoke to the communities of Avon and Somerset.

It aims to:

• improve the quality of interactions between officers and the public
• give officers confidence to use their powers legitimately
• drive down disproportionality

Some parts of the policy have been redacted, to ensure operational tactics are protected.

If officers suspect illegal items might be being kept under a person’s clothes, they may carry out an  exposure of intimate parts (EIP) search where a person will be required to remove their clothing.

There are strict rules around how these searches are carried out, including:

• where the search can take place
• pre-search authorisation
  • Sergeants must authorise EIP searches of an adult
  • Inspectors must authorise EIP searches of a child
• if the person being searched is a child or vulnerable (by the same definition as in custody), an appropriate adult must be present for the search

Analysis of our data on EIP searches reveals disparities in the number of Black people being subjected to them. More information about this can be found in our EIP searches toolkit (PDF).