Describe the powers of the police to stop and search an individual on the street

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Describe the powers of the police to stop and search an individual on the street. (18 mark)

The police can stop anyone in a public place and ask you to account for yourself. For example, you could be asked to account for your actions, behaviour, presence in an area or possession of anything. When the police stop you and ask you for an explanation, you don't need to provide your personal details. The police do not have to make a record or give you a receipt. But you may be asked to give your ethnicity.

The police can stop and search any person, vehicle, and anything in or on the vehicle for certain items. However, before they stop and search they must have reasonable grounds for suspecting that they will find: stolen goods, or, drugs, or, an offensive weapon, or, many article made or adapted for use in certain offences, for example a burglary or theft, or knives, or items which could damage or destroy property, for example spray paint cans.

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If a serious violent incident has taken place, the police can stop and search you without having reasonable grounds for suspecting they will find the items. The police can also search a football coach going to or from a football match if they have reasonable grounds for suspecting there is alcohol on board or that someone is drunk on the coach. The police can also stop and search you or your vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you are a terrorist. But they do not need reasonable grounds if they have been given permission to carry out searches ...

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