UK - stop and search

[mashed]

hi
swim has been stopped and searched several times now,swim was wondering whats the law in the uk concerning this?can you refuse a search? also can females be searched my males?
thanks

[Future_Narc_Officer]

Originally Posted by mashed

hi
swim has been stopped and searched several times now,swim was wondering whats the law in the uk concerning this?can you refuse a search? also can females be searched my males?
thanks

If they have probable cause to search you (meaning that something specific leads them to believe you may have i.e. drugs or a weapon on you, not just mere suspicion, they can do so).

You can refuse a search under certain circumstances. Say, for example, you get pulled over in your vehicle and the officer asks if he can search it, you do have the right to say, "No." A lot of people don't know otherwise, and some are afraid to challenge a police officer. I see it on COPS all the time. If they ask, they probably don't have probable cause to conduct a search. Instead, they are requiring consent from you as a means to search your vehicle. If they don't ask, it's because they don't have to in that given situation. Their police powers allow them to conduct a search under these circumstances.

As for male officers searching females, I'm not entirely sure how it works. I watch COPS a lot and a male officer always calls for female backup to do a pat-down on a female.

[TommyRowe]

Originally Posted by Future_Narc_Officer

If they have probable cause to search you (meaning that something specific leads them to believe you may have i.e. drugs or a weapon on you, not just mere suspicion, they can do so).

You can refuse a search under certain circumstances. Say, for example, you get pulled over in your vehicle and the officer asks if he can search it, you do have the right to say, "No." A lot of people don't know otherwise, and some are afraid to challenge a police officer. I see it on COPS all the time. If they ask, they probably don't have probable cause to conduct a search. Instead, they are requiring consent from you as a means to search your vehicle. If they don't ask, it's because they don't have to in that given situation. Their police powers allow them to conduct a search under these circumstances.

As for male officers searching females, I'm not entirely sure how it works. I watch COPS a lot and a male officer always calls for female backup to do a pat-down on a female.

I wanted to point out all that is US related. In the UK I have no idea. I think they have similar searching procedures. Such as, they can search you in the UK for "their safety" to see if you have guns etc.

In the US they can do that WITH or WITHOUT consent. However they cant do things like going into your wallet etc. without consent/probable cause. The catch-22 is you refusing to consent usually constitutes probable cause so chances are if the police, in the US that is, want to search you they will and it will be legal.

Just hide what you go and all should be well. They wont do a cavity check on the streets!

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[Sven99]

In the UK the rules are pretty similar to the US rules.

In most cases, Police will ask permission to conduct a search, but will phrase it in such a way or use their position of authority to imply that refusing the search is not an option. Regardless of these techniques, you have the right to refuse a search. You also do not have to answer any questions asked. The best way to go about this is to simply say 'officer, I do not consent to any searches' while being polite. If asked why you don't want to be searched, say that its not something you are willing to discuss. Don't get angry or argumentative.

If a Police Officer has probable cause to suspect you are carrying something illegal (usually drugs or a weapon) they can search you without your consent. In order to do this they must advise you of the reasons for the search and the legislation under which they are allowed to search you. They CANNOT do this purely based on suspicion.

An exception to this is the new anti terror legislation - in which case they don't have to tell you the reason for the search, but must still advise of the legislation being used.

As for females being searched by males, you can be patted down, and asked to remove an outer coat, but if the Police wish you to remove any further items of clothing the search must be carried out in a private place by an officer of the same gender as you.

Hope that helps.

[cra$h]

Originally Posted by TommyRowe

Just hide what you go and all should be well. They wont do a cavity check on the streets!

True shit! a friend had to hide an ounce of weed in his asscrack, and got away with it!

[Future_Narc_Officer]

Originally Posted by cra$h

True shit! a friend had to hide an ounce of weed in his asscrack, and got away with it!

He must have a large ass!

Otherwise it looked like he had a major case of hemroids!

[Toma]

http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs.../stopandsearch

[Future_Narc_Officer]

Good find, Toma.

[cra$h]

hahha, i have no idea how he got away with it, but he's known by the police as a drug dealer. Showes how fucked up swim's township is....