Stop and search – what’s the deal?
Test your knowledge
Take our mini myth-busting quiz and test your current knowledge about stop and search.
We know the idea of a stop and search can feel intimidating and inconvenient. But to keep our communities safe from serious harm, particularly crimes involving drugs and weapons, it’s important we have the power to stop and search people.
When we stop and search a person, we will explain why you have been stopped, and will carry out each search in a polite and respectful manner
It’s also important that we hear your feedback, as each interaction allows us to learn and improve how we do things.
You can be stopped and searched if there is suspicion that you have any of these objects on you:
- Drugs
- Weapons
- Stolen goods
- Fireworks
- Objects used to commit a theft or fraud
- Objects used to damage property
Being stopped and searched will not give you a criminal record. But it you are found with any of these items you may be committing an offence, which may result in a criminal record.
During a search you are not detained. This means you are not under arrest. But you are not allowed to leave.
The officer may place you in handcuffs in order to carry out the search.
The officer may be recording the search on their body worn video camera, This is for both your safety and their safety, and for evidence gathering purposes.
- If they are not wearing uniform, show you their police ID and provide their station details.
- Explain what item they are looking for and the reason for the stop and search.
- Explain that you are detained in order to carry out the search.
- Let you know you can be provided with a copy of the search record.
Working with our communities
We value our communities. We have more officers on our streets and having a good relationship with those who live in, work in, study in and visit Essex, is more important than ever.
That’s why we’re continuing to work with our communities to review our stop and search interactions. We invite members of the public to watch and review body worn video recordings of our officers conducting stop and searches across Essex.
The Independent Chair of the Body Worn Video Review Panel, Neil Woodbridge, said:
“The real testimony to Essex Police’s transparency and public service is when we have seen things we are not happy about, they have responded and taken action.”
If you’d like to make a difference, you can be a part of that process. Learn more about how we’re opening up the conversation with impacted communities, and find out how you can join the panel.
If you'd like to be a voice for your community and review our body worn video of stop searches, you can sign up to join the stop and search review panel.
Section 60 and dispersal orders
Inspector Dave Gardiner explains why you might see a Section 60 or dispersal order in place after instances of disorder or antisocial behaviour, the authorisation process and what this means for law-abiding members of the public.
Continuing a two-way conversation
So, how are we continuing the two-way conversation with you, our communities?
- We continue to nurture our invaluable relationship with the Independent Advisory Group, who have become a direct, unfiltered voice of the public.
- We have launched our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Cohesion working group to come together and highlight and address any community issues.
- Our Body Worn Video Review Panel continues to be a success in gauging the public’s reviews of real Body Worn Video Footage of stop and searches in Essex.
- Officers continue to record the rationale for a stop on their body worn video cameras as soon as possible to ensure the integrity of the stop so it can be shown to the member of the public.
- We ask everyone who has been stopped and searched to fill in questionnaires so we can gain insight in how it has impacted that person and how we can improve future interactions