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Your rights

If you are stopped and searched, it doesn’t mean that you have done something wrong.

[image: Stop and search know your rights]Police understand that being stopped can be embarrassing, or frustrating if you are in a hurry. Please stay calm and co-operate with the officer – this will help to reduce the time it takes. You should not be stopped or searched just because of your age, race, ethnic background, nationality, religion or faith, the way that you look, the language you speak or because you have committed a crime in the past.

View latest edition of Know your Rights leaflet (PDF 202 Kb - opens new window).

View Know your Rights leaflet - easy read version (PDF 831 Kb - opens new window).

Know your Rights leaflet - Farsi (PDF 152 Kb - opens new window).

Know your Rights leaflet - Polish (PDF 149 Kb - opens new window).

Know your Rights leaflet - Punjabi (PDF 181 Kb - opens new window).

Know your Rights leaflet - Somali (PDF 153 Kb - opens new window).

Know your Rights leaflet - Urdu (PDF 208 Kb - opens new window).

You have a right to complain

If you think that you were stopped and searched unfairly or without respect, you can get advice about how to complain from:

• Your local police station - you do not need to go to the police station where the officer who stopped you works.
• Thames Valley Police Authority (opens new window).
• A Citizens Advice Bureau (opens new window).
• The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) (opens new window).
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (opens new window).
• A local law centre or solicitor.

You do not have to complain in person. You can also phone, email or write a letter to the police to file your complaint.

If you want somebody to complain on your behalf, you must give your consent in writing. Police will still want to speak with you at some stage in their investigation of the complaint.