Rights and responsibilities

What are my rights?

Here's a basic rundown of rights that protect you:

The officers searching you must use the stop and search powers fairly, responsibly and with respect for people without discriminating by age, race, ethnic background, nationality, faith, the language you speak or because you have committed a crime in the past.

If English is not your first language, and you do not understand why you have been stopped, reasonable steps must be taken to provide you with information in your own language.

The officer must make sure that the search time is kept to a minimum.

The search must take place near where you are stopped, except in instances where moving you would protect your privacy.

The officer does not have the power to stop you in order to find grounds for a search.

A more comprehensive site to all your rights when you are stopped and searched is contained in the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Your right to complain

If you believe you have been treated unfairly or unlawfully during a stop and/or search, you may make a complaint about any specific officer(s). To make a complaint:

Go in person to any Police Station.

Telephone, email or write to the Chief Officer responsible for the area you were stopped/searched in (usually a Superintendent). For the relevant contact details call 101.

Contact the Independent Police Complaints Commission www.ipcc.gov.uk

Give consent for another person to complain on your behalf (in writing).

Community Reporting Centres

It is now possible to make a complaint using a Community Reporting Centre, which is independent from the Police Service. These are currently situated in any Citizens Advice Bureau in Suffolk or at the Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE) situated at 46a St Matthews St, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3EP - Telephone 01473 408111.

Suffolk Constabulary is committed to increasing community confidence in its use of stop and search.

What are my responsibilities?

Everyone has a civic duty to help police officers prevent crime and catch offenders. The fact that the police may have stopped someone does not mean they are guilty of an offence.

Apart from the inconvenience, people may feel irritated that they’ve been stopped when they haven’t done anything wrong – that’s completely understandable. However, the stop or stop and search will be much quicker if a person co-operates with police officers.

Don’t forget that the stop or stop and search must be carried out according to strict rules – the police have responsibility to ensure that people’s rights are protected. Everyone should expect to be treated fairly and responsibility. In almost all cases, an individual should be given a record of the stop or stop and search at the time it happens, or if not within 12 months of the search. The police use these powers to help make the local community safer by disrupting crime – public co-operation is an essential part of that.

The sole purpose of Stop and Search is to prevent unnecessary arrests.

Protecting you from Terrorism

Stop and search under the Terrorism Act 2000 provides a vital tactic in our counter terrorism strategy.

We understand being stopped or searched by police may cause an inconvenience and sometimes distress. But it is our duty to protect all members of the public from terrorism and your patience and understanding actively helps us to do this.