Arrest, Search
and Seizure
Powers of arrest, stop and search and entry, search and seizure are Blackstone's Police Manual chapters 3.3, 3.1 and 3.2 in the 2026 edition. This page sets out the law with section numbers, the ranks and what must be said, then the traps, then six worked practice questions.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 4 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Mostly small words and small ranks. Suspect or believe. Inspector, superintendent or no authority at all. Twenty-four hours, three months or one month. And what must be said: under s.28 PACE the person must be told they are under arrest and the ground, even where the ground is obvious. Learn each power as a short card: who, threshold, rank, time limit, what must be said, what is recorded.
Arrest, search and seizure at a glance
This is one of the revision pages in our promotion series. It belongs with how to pass the sergeants exam and the broader PACE 1984 for sergeants guide. The exam tests only the law as it appears in the Blackstone's Manuals edition for the sitting, so use this page to organise revision, not to replace the Manuals. Statute wording on this page was read on legislation.gov.uk and the Codes on GOV.UK on 4 October 2026.
| Power | Core points |
|---|---|
| Arrest by a constable (s.24) | Two tests: reasonable grounds to suspect an offence, and reasonable grounds to believe arrest is necessary for a s.24(5) reason. Any offence. No authorisation |
| Citizens' arrest (s.24A) | Indictable offences only (not Public Order Act 1986 Parts 3 and 3A); four reasons; not reasonably practicable for a constable to do it instead |
| What must be said (s.28) | That the person is under arrest and the ground, at the time or as soon as practicable; obviousness is no excuse for a constable; Code G also requires the reason arrest is necessary and a caution |
| Voluntary attendance (s.29) | Free to leave at will unless arrested; told at once if prevented from leaving. Arrest on arrival only on new information (Code G Note 2G) |
| Taking to the station (s.30) | As soon as practicable; delay only for investigations reasonable to carry out immediately, with reasons recorded on first arrival; street bail needs a custody officer's authority |
| Stop and search: s.1 PACE, s.23 MDA | Reasonable grounds to suspect (genuine and objective). No authorisation. No power to detain to find grounds. Code A explains, records and gives a copy |
| Section 60 CJPOA | Inspector or above authorises in writing for up to 24 hours; superintendent extends by 24 hours; constable in uniform searches with no suspicion |
| Entry to arrest (s.17) | Reasonable grounds for believing the person is on the premises; list of purposes; search limited to what is reasonably required |
| Entry after arrest (ss.18 and 32) | s.18: suspecting evidence, premises occupied or controlled, inspector's written authority. s.32: believing evidence, premises where arrested or immediately before, arrest offence only |
| Warrants (s.8) | Justice of the peace; indictable offence; three months; one entry unless multiple entries are specified; inspector's written authority for repeat entries and, under Code B, to apply |
| Seizure (ss.19 and 22) | s.19 seizure by a constable lawfully on premises, never legally privileged items; s.22 retention only as long as necessary, no retention if a copy would do |
Read each section, then try the worked questions without looking at the answers. Pay most attention to the traps table and to the ranks and authorities table. Section and paragraph numbers are there so you can find the point in the Manuals, which are the syllabus.
Arrest by a constable: section 24 PACE
A constable may arrest without a warrant for any offence, but only if two things are true. Code G para 2.1 puts it plainly: a lawful arrest requires a person's involvement or suspected involvement in an offence and reasonable grounds for believing that the arrest is necessary. It can never be necessary to arrest a person unless there are reasonable grounds to suspect them of an offence.
Limb one: the offence
| Situation | Section | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| to be about to commit, or in the act of committing | s.24(1)(a) and (b) | No grounds test: the person actually is |
| reasonably suspected to be about to commit, or committing | s.24(1)(c) and (d) | Reasonable grounds for suspecting |
| offence suspected to have been committed, person suspected of it | s.24(2) | Reasonable grounds for suspecting the offence and the person |
| offence has been committed, person guilty or suspected of it | s.24(3) | Guilty, or reasonable grounds for suspecting guilt |
The suspicion must be reasonable and objective. Code G para 2.3A requires some reasonable, objective grounds based on known facts and information relevant to the likelihood that the offence has been committed and that the person committed it. Note 2A reminds officers that facts which point to innocence, such as a self-defence account, may dispel suspicion.
Limb two: necessity (s.24(4) and (5))
The power is exercisable only if the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that, for one of the reasons in s.24(5), arrest is necessary. Code G para 2.7 says the criteria are exhaustive. The officer must be satisfied at least one applies (para 2.5), and deciding whether to arrest, grant street bail after arrest, report for summons, issue a penalty notice or take other action remains an operational decision (para 2.4).
| Reason | Section | Notes from the Act and Code G |
|---|---|---|
| Name cannot be ascertained or is doubted | s.24(5)(a) | The constable does not know and cannot readily ascertain the name, or has reasonable grounds to doubt a name given (Code G para 2.9(a): hesitation can ground doubt; consider mobile fingerprinting where available) |
| Address | s.24(5)(b) | Correspondingly for the address; for summons purposes an address must be one where the person will be long enough to be served (Code G para 2.9(b)) |
| Prevent injury, injury to self or others | s.24(5)(c)(i) and (ii) | Causing physical injury to themselves or another, or suffering physical injury |
| Prevent loss or damage to property | s.24(5)(c)(iii) | Code G gives the example of a persistent property offender likely to continue |
| Prevent an offence against public decency | s.24(5)(c)(iv) and (6) | Only where members of the public going about their normal business cannot reasonably be expected to avoid the person |
| Prevent unlawful obstruction of the highway | s.24(5)(c)(v) | Code G suggests a warning first where practicable (Note 2D) |
| Protect a child or other vulnerable person | s.24(5)(d) | From the person in question |
| Prompt and effective investigation | s.24(5)(e) | Wide in scope: includes the need to interview where voluntary attendance is not practicable, preserving evidence, searching premises, detention beyond 24 hours (Code G para 2.9(e)) |
| Prevent hindrance of prosecution by disappearance | s.24(5)(f) | Unlikely to attend court, or no satisfactory address for service |
Code G Note 2C says the officer is not required to be satisfied that there is no viable alternative, but should consider arrest to be the practical, sensible and proportionate option at the time. Notes 2H and 2I add that the criteria do not permit arrest solely to take and check fingerprints, samples or photographs routinely, or solely because the offence is a drug-testing trigger offence.
Arrest is a significant interference with the right to liberty under Article 5 ECHR (Code G para 1.2). For the human-rights and use-of-force side, see our use of force and human rights revision page.
Citizens' arrest: section 24A PACE
A person other than a constable may arrest without warrant under s.24A, but the power is much narrower than a constable's. The table compares the two.
| Feature | Constable, s.24 | Citizen, s.24A |
|---|---|---|
| Offences | Any offence | Indictable offences only (includes either-way). Not Public Order Act 1986 Part 3 or 3A |
| Offence status | Suspected is enough for (1) to (3) as listed | s.24A(1): in the act, or reasonable grounds for suspecting in the act. s.24A(2): applies only where an indictable offence has been committed |
| Necessity reasons | Six groups in s.24(5) | Four only: injury to self or others, suffering injury, loss or damage to property, making off before a constable can assume responsibility |
| Name and address | A reason to arrest | Not a reason available to a citizen |
| Constable available? | Not relevant | Must appear not reasonably practicable for a constable to make the arrest instead (s.24A(3)(b)) |
Two points are easy to miss. First, s.24A(2) only applies where an indictable offence has been committed: someone who arrests a person they believe is guilty of an offence that turns out never to have happened cannot rely on that limb. Second, a constable who takes over a citizen's arrest must take the person to a police station as soon as practicable under s.30(1)(b) and (1A), and the s.28 information duties still apply.
What must be said on arrest: section 28 and Code G
Section 28 is short and heavily examined. An arrest is not lawful unless the person is informed that they are under arrest as soon as practicable (s.28(1)), and not lawful unless they are informed of the ground for the arrest at the time or as soon as practicable afterwards (s.28(3)). For a constable, both duties apply regardless of whether the fact or the ground is obvious (s.28(2) and (4)). The only statutory exception is s.28(5): it was not reasonably practicable to inform the person because they escaped from arrest before the information could be given.
Code G adds more than the statute. The arrested person must be told they are arrested and the relevant circumstances in relation to both limbs, which means the suspected offence and the reason arrest is necessary (paras 2.2, 2.9, 3.3, Note 3). The custody officer must be told these matters on arrival. A caution must be given on arrest unless impracticable by reason of the person's condition or behaviour, or already given immediately before arrest (para 3.4), in these terms (para 3.5):
"You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."
Minor deviations from the words are not a breach if the sense is preserved (para 3.6). The arresting officer must record the nature and circumstances of the offence, the reason or reasons arrest was necessary, the caution and anything the person said (para 4.1). When explaining why a criterion applies, it is not necessary to disclose details that might undermine the investigation (Note 3).
Detention and questioning after arrest are on our PACE Code C revision page.
Voluntary attendance, taking to the station and street bail
Not every suspect needs to be arrested to be interviewed. Code G Note 2F requires an officer who believes an interview is necessary to consider whether voluntary attendance is a practicable alternative. If it is, arrest is not necessary for that purpose. When arranging attendance, the officer should explain that arrest will become necessary if the person does not agree to attend at a suitable time, fails to attend, or fails to remain for the interview to be completed.
| Point | Authority | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary attendance | s.29 | Entitled to leave at will unless arrested; informed at once if prevented from leaving |
| Arrest on arrival for a voluntary interview | Code G Note 2G | Only if new information after the arrangement means voluntary attendance ceased to be practicable and it was not reasonably practicable to arrest before; the possibility of leaving mid-interview is not a valid reason |
| Taking to a police station | s.30(1A) | As soon as practicable after arrest elsewhere than at a police station |
| Release without bail before the station | s.30(7) and (7A) | Must release if, before reaching the station, a constable is satisfied there are no grounds for keeping the person under arrest; record the release |
| Delay | s.30(10), (10A), (11) | Allowed if the person's presence elsewhere is necessary for investigations reasonable to carry out immediately; reasons recorded when the person first arrives at the station (or is released on street bail) |
| Street bail | s.30A(1A), (3A), (3B), s.30B | Constable satisfied bail is necessary and proportionate; a custody officer authorises; no surety, security or bail hostel requirement; the bail end date is three months from the day after arrest |
An officer cannot arrest someone on arrival for a voluntary interview just because they might walk out halfway. If they do decide to leave part way through, the police can consider at that point whether arrest has become necessary. Arrest on arrival needs new information since the arrangement, and it must not have been reasonably practicable to arrest the person before they attended.
Street bail was changed by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. As shown on legislation.gov.uk, the constable must be satisfied that bail is necessary and proportionate, a custody officer must authorise it, and the person must be required to attend at a time on the bail end date, which is the last day of the period of three months beginning with the day after the arrest (ss.30A(1A) and 30B). A constable may arrest without warrant on reasonable grounds for suspecting a street bail condition has been broken (s.30D(2A)); the person must then be taken to a police station as soon as practicable. The 2022 Act changed the street bail rules from 28 October 2022, so older revision material may describe the earlier position; check the date of anything you rely on.
Stop and search: section 1 PACE, section 23 MDA and Code A
Code A para 2.2 sets the legal test for powers such as s.1 PACE (stolen or prohibited articles) and s.23 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (controlled drugs). It has two parts. First, the officer must have formed a genuine suspicion in their own mind that they will find the object. Second, the suspicion must be reasonable, meaning an objective basis in facts, information or intelligence that would lead a reasonable person to the same conclusion. Officers must be able to explain the basis by reference to information or intelligence about, or some specific behaviour by, the person concerned.
| Object of search | Power | Threshold | Authority and limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stolen or prohibited articles (and bladed or pointed articles, corrosive substances, certain fireworks) | s.1 PACE | Reasonable grounds for suspecting | None. Public places and places with ready access that are not dwellings (s.1(1)) |
| Controlled drugs | s.23(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 | Reasonable grounds to suspect possession of a controlled drug | None. Can detain to search and stop vehicles |
| Weapons or dangerous instruments in a locality | s.60 CJPOA 1994 | No suspicion needed for the search once authorised | Inspector or above, in writing, up to 24 hours; superintendent extends 24 hours |
| Protest-related prohibited objects | s.11 Public Order Act 2023 | No suspicion needed once authorised | Inspector or above who reasonably believes the s.11(1) conditions and the s.11(4) necessity points; up to 24 hours (s.11(3)); superintendent or above may extend for a further period not exceeding 24 hours (s.11(5)) |
| Removal of items worn to conceal identity | s.60AA CJPOA 1994 | Constable reasonably believes it is worn wholly or mainly to conceal identity | A s.60 authorisation in force, or a separate s.60AA(3) authorisation by an inspector or above, up to 24 hours |
Section 1 PACE in detail
- Where. Places to which the public have access, and other places to which people have ready access that are not dwellings (s.1(1)).
- Gardens and yards. In a garden or yard occupied with and used for a dwelling, the constable must have reasonable grounds for believing both that the person does not live there and that they are not there with the permission of someone who does (s.1(4)). The same rule applies to vehicles (s.1(5)). That is a belief test sitting on top of the suspicion test.
- Prohibited articles. An offensive weapon, or an article made or adapted for, or intended for, use in the offences in s.1(8) (burglary, theft, taking a conveyance, fraud, criminal damage and, since the Public Order Act 2023, the protest-related offences listed there).
- Seizure. A constable who finds an article they reasonably suspect to be stolen or prohibited (or one of the other article types the power covers) may seize it (s.1(6)).
- Detention. The constable may detain the person or vehicle for the search, for such time as is reasonably required, at or near the place of first detention (s.2(8)). A search need not be carried out if it appears subsequently that none is required or it is impracticable (s.2(1)).
- Not in uniform. A constable not in uniform cannot stop a vehicle under these powers (s.2(9)(b)).
What Code A adds to the statute
- Innocent possession. The power depends on the likelihood the person has the item, not on suspecting them of an offence (para 2.2A).
- Personal factors. Physical appearance, including protected characteristics, or a previous conviction, cannot be used alone or combined with other factors as the reason for a stop, unless there is a description of a suspect (para 2.2B).
- Questions before the search. The officer may question a detained person, but reasonable grounds cannot be supplied retrospectively by questioning or by a refusal to answer (para 2.9). If grounds cease, no search may take place and the person is free to leave and must be told so (para 2.10).
- No stopping to find grounds. There is no power to stop or detain a person to find grounds for a search (para 2.11), although an officer can speak to someone without detaining them (Note 1).
- Conduct. Courtesy and consideration; co-operation sought first; force only as a last resort; minimum time; search at or near the place of detention (paras 3.1 to 3.4).
- Clothing. Only an outer coat, jacket or gloves in public (para 3.5 and s.2(9)(a)). A T-shirt or more thorough search must be out of public view, such as a police van or nearby station, and by an officer of the same sex (para 3.6). Intimate parts only at a nearby police station or other nearby place out of public view, not a police vehicle (para 3.7).
- Uniform. Searches under the s.60-type powers in para 2.1(b) may be undertaken only by a constable in uniform (para 3.9).
- Records. A record is made unless exceptional circumstances make it wholly impracticable (para 4.1), including self-defined and officer-perceived ethnicity (para 4.3(a); s.3(6)(a)(v)). The person searched is entitled to a copy if they ask within three months (s.3(7), (9)). No name, address or date of birth is required (para 4.3A).
| Situation | What must be given | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Stop and search (not in uniform) | Documentary evidence that you are a constable | s.2(2)(i); Code A 3.8 |
| Stop and search (always) | That the person is detained for a search; your name and police station (or a warrant or other identification number where giving your name might put you in danger); the legal power; the object of the search; the grounds (where suspicion is needed); the right to a copy of the record within 3 months | ss.2(3) and 3(7), (9); Code A 3.8 |
| Section 60 search | As above, but explain the nature of the power, the authorisation and the fact that it has been given instead of grounds for suspicion | Code A 3.8(d)(ii) |
| Arrest | That the person is under arrest; the ground (the offence); the reason arrest is necessary; the caution unless impracticable or already given | s.28; Code G 2.2, 2.9, 3.3, 3.4 and Note 3 |
| Arrest by a citizen, handed to a constable | Same s.28 duties apply; the constable who takes custody takes the person to a station as soon as practicable under s.30(1)(b) and (1A) | s.28; s.30(1)(b) and (1A) |
| Executing a warrant with the occupier present | Identify yourself, show documentary evidence if not in uniform, produce the warrant and give a copy | s.16(5); Code B 6.5 and 6.7 (notice of powers and rights) |
| Search with consent | State the purpose and extent; the person need not consent, may withdraw consent at any time, and anything seized may be produced in evidence | Code B 5.2 |
The offences behind a drug search, such as possession and possession with intent, are on our misuse of drugs and firearms revision page.
Section 60 and other suspicionless powers: the authorisation traps
Section 60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is the most examined suspicionless power because it has ranks, times and a two-level threshold. Break it into four questions.
- Who can authorise? An officer of inspector rank or above who reasonably believes one of three things: that incidents involving serious violence may take place in a locality in the force area and an authorisation is expedient to prevent them; that an incident of serious violence has taken place, a dangerous instrument or offensive weapon used in it is being carried in a locality, and an authorisation is expedient to find it; or that persons are carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons without good reason in a locality (s.60(1)). Code A Note 11 says the belief must have an objective basis, such as intelligence or relevant information.
- For how long, and in what form? A specified period not exceeding 24 hours (s.60(1)); in writing, signed, specifying the grounds, locality and period (s.60(9)). Oral authorisation is permitted only for the incident-has-happened ground where writing is not practicable, and must be recorded in writing as soon as practicable (s.60(9ZA); Code A para 2.13).
- Who can extend and who must be told? A superintendent or above may direct that it continues for a further 24 hours if it appears expedient, having regard to offences committed or reasonably suspected to have been committed in connection with the activity authorised (s.60(3)), in writing unless that is not practicable, when it must be recorded in writing as soon as practicable afterwards (Code A para 2.14). An inspector who gives an authorisation must cause a superintendent or above to be informed as soon as practicable (s.60(3A)). Code A para 2.14C also expects the inspector to communicate the decision to the public as soon as possible where it is operationally beneficial.
- What can the constable do? A constable in uniform may stop any pedestrian and search them, or anything carried, for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments, and stop any vehicle and search the vehicle, driver and passengers, whether or not there are grounds for suspicion (s.60(4) and (5)). They may seize a dangerous instrument or an article they reasonably suspect to be an offensive weapon (s.60(6)). Failure to stop when required is a summary offence punishable by up to one month's imprisonment or a level 3 fine, or both (s.60(8)).
The searching officer needs no suspicion about the person or vehicle. The authorising officer needs a reasonable belief. An answer option that moves the suspicion test to the constable, or that lets a sergeant authorise, is wrong. The selection of people to stop should still reflect an objective assessment linked to the purpose of the authorisation (Code A para 2.14A), and the powers must not be used for reasons unconnected with it.
Other points the Code expects: the person searched or the driver of a vehicle stopped can ask within 12 months for a written statement that the stop or search was under s.60 (s.60(10), (10A); Code A para 2.14B), and the search record and the pre-search explanation must cover the nature of the power, the authorisation and the fact that it has been given (Code A paras 3.8(d)(ii) and 4.3).
Two related powers share the pattern. Section 60AA lets a constable in uniform require removal of an item worn wholly or mainly to conceal identity, and seize an item intended to be worn for that purpose, where a s.60 authorisation is in force or a separate s.60AA(3) authorisation has been given by an inspector or above for up to 24 hours. Section 11 Public Order Act 2023 gives an inspector or above a similar suspicionless authorisation, up to 24 hours, for protest-related prohibited objects where they reasonably believe the s.11(1) conditions are met and the s.11(4) necessity points apply. A superintendent or above may direct that it continues for a further period not exceeding 24 hours (s.11(5)), and an inspector who gives one must cause a superintendent or above to be informed as soon as practicable (s.12(1)).
Entry without a warrant: sections 17, 18, 32 and the common law
Section 17 lets a constable enter and search premises for specified purposes. Section 17(5) abolishes all common law powers of entry without warrant, and s.17(6) saves only the power to deal with or prevent a breach of the peace. The section creates no power of arrest (Code B para 4.1).
| Purpose | Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Executing an arrest warrant or committal warrant | s.17(1)(a) | Any constable |
| Arresting for an indictable offence | s.17(1)(b) | Any constable; reasonable grounds for believing the person is on the premises |
| Arresting for listed offences, mostly summary (including some Public Order Act 1936 and 1986 offences, Criminal Law Act 1977 ss.6 to 8 and 10, Road Traffic Act 1988 ss.4 and 163, Transport and Works Act 1992 s.27, animal welfare and squatting offences) | s.17(1)(c) | Entry for s.17(1)(c)(ii), (iv) and (vi) offences only by a constable in uniform (s.17(3)) |
| Arrest under s.30D(1) or (2A) or s.46A(1) or (1A) PACE; s.5B(7) or s.7(3) Bail Act 1976; s.97(1) Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 | s.17(1)(cab) | The bail-related arrest powers; the list is not exhaustive of s.17(1), so read the full section in the Manual |
| Recapturing a person unlawfully at large | s.17(1)(cb) and (d) | (d): any person unlawfully at large whom the constable is pursuing |
| Saving life or limb or preventing serious damage to property | s.17(1)(e) | The only purpose where the 'reasonable grounds for believing the person is on the premises' condition does not apply (s.17(2)) |
Outside saving life or limb or preventing serious damage to property, the power is exercisable only if the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the person they are seeking is on the premises, and where the premises consist of two or more separate dwellings it is limited to the common parts and any dwelling where the constable has reasonable grounds for believing the person may be (s.17(2)). The search is limited to what is reasonably required for the purpose of the entry (s.17(4)).
After arrest: section 18 against section 32
These two sections look alike and are routinely mixed in exam scenarios. The table separates them.
| Feature | Section 18 | Section 32(2)(b) |
|---|---|---|
| Premises | Occupied or controlled by the arrested person | Where the person was when arrested or immediately before |
| Arrest for | An indictable offence | An indictable offence (for the premises power) |
| Threshold | Reasonable grounds for suspecting evidence is there (s.18(1)) | Reasonable grounds for believing evidence is there (s.32(6)) |
| Evidence of | The arrest offence, or another indictable offence connected with or similar to it | The arrest offence only |
| Authority | Inspector or above in writing, unless s.18(5) applies (then inform an inspector after) | None needed |
| Legally privileged material | Excluded from the evidence for which you may search (s.18(1)) | No special rule on the face of s.32; s.19(6) bars seizure of legally privileged items in all cases |
| Several dwellings in one building | No special limit in s.18 | Only the dwelling where the arrest took place or the person had been, and common parts (s.32(7)) |
| Scope of search | Only so far as reasonably required to discover the evidence (s.18(3)) | Only so far as reasonably required (s.32(3)) |
Section 32 also allows search of the arrested person (s.32(1) if the person may present a danger to themselves or others; s.32(2)(a) for items that might assist escape or be evidence, on reasonable grounds for believing the person may have concealed such things, s.32(5)). It does not authorise removal of clothing in public beyond an outer coat, jacket or gloves, though it does authorise a search of the mouth (s.32(4)).
An officer may search under s.18 before the person is taken to a police station (or released on street bail), without an inspector's prior authority, if the person's presence at a place other than a police station is necessary for the effective investigation of the offence (s.18(5) and (5A)). The constable must then inform an inspector or above as soon as practicable. That officer records the grounds and the nature of the evidence sought, in the custody record if the occupier is in police detention (s.18(6) to (8)). An inspector's authority is a feature of s.18 searches, not of s.30 delay.
Code B para 4.3 repeats that inspector authority should be given only when the authorising officer is satisfied the premises are occupied or controlled by the arrested person and the necessary grounds exist, and says that where possible the authority should be recorded on the Notice of Powers and Rights.
Search warrants: section 8 PACE, sections 15 and 16, and the MDA warrant
| Stage | Rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies, who issues | A constable applies; a justice of the peace issues (s.8(1)) | Application is made ex parte and supported by a written information; the constable answers on oath (s.15(3), (4)) |
| What the justice must be satisfied of | Reasonable grounds for believing that an indictable offence has been committed, that there is material on the premises likely to be of substantial value and likely to be relevant evidence, and not legally privileged, excluded or special procedure material (s.8(1)(a) to (d)) | Plus one of the four conditions in s.8(3): not practicable to communicate with anyone entitled to grant entry; practicable to communicate with someone entitled to grant entry but not with anyone entitled to grant access to the evidence; entry will not be granted unless a warrant is produced; or the purpose of the search may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless a constable arriving can secure immediate entry |
| Specific premises or all premises | A specific premises warrant names the premises. An all premises warrant covers premises occupied or controlled by a named person | All premises: extra tests in s.8(1B); entry to unspecified premises needs an inspector's written authority (s.16(3A)) |
| Number of entries | One occasion unless the warrant says multiple (s.15(5)); multiple entries may be unlimited or capped (s.8(1D), s.15(5A)) | Second and later entries need an inspector's written authority (s.16(3B)) |
| Time limit | Within three months from issue (s.16(3)) | At a reasonable hour unless the purpose may be frustrated (s.16(4)) |
| On execution | If the occupier is present: identify yourself, show documentary evidence if not in uniform, produce the warrant and give a copy (s.16(5)) | If the occupier is absent, the same applies to another person who appears to be in charge (s.16(6)) |
| Refused application | A further application for the same premises needs additional grounds (Code B para 3.8) |
Code B para 3.1 requires the officer to take reasonable steps to check that the information is accurate, recent and not provided maliciously or irresponsibly, and says an application may not be made on the basis of an anonymous source if corroboration has not been sought. The application must be supported by a signed written authority from an inspector or above (para 3.4(a)); in an urgent application to a justice of the peace where an inspector is not readily available, the next most senior officer on duty can give it. Superintendent authority applies instead to certain applications to a judge under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the National Security Act 2023 (para 3.4(b)).
A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under s.23(3) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 where there is reasonable ground for suspecting controlled drugs are in the possession of a person on premises. It authorises entry, if need be by force, and search of the premises and any persons found there, at any time or times within one month from the date of the warrant. PACE s.16(3) says three months. Code B para 6.1 says to use the shorter period if the enactment specifies one.
Entry by consent is a separate route. Code B para 5.1 requires the consent of a person entitled to grant entry, in writing on the Notice of Powers and Rights if practicable. The person must be told they need not consent, that consent can be withdrawn at any time including during the search, and that anything seized may be produced in evidence (para 5.2). Search cannot continue if consent is given under duress or withdrawn (para 5.3). In a lodging house, hostel or similar accommodation, every reasonable effort should be made to get the consent of the individual occupier, and a search should not be made solely on the landlord's consent (Note 5A).
Seizure and retention: sections 19 and 22
- General power (s.19). A constable lawfully on any premises may seize anything if they have reasonable grounds for believing it has been obtained in consequence of an offence, or is evidence in relation to an offence they are investigating or any other offence, and it is necessary to seize it to prevent it being concealed, lost, damaged, altered or destroyed (s.19(2), (3)).
- Computer material (s.19(4)). Electronic information accessible from the premises may be required to be produced in a form that can be taken away and read, on the same style of grounds and necessity.
- Legal privilege (s.19(6)). No power of seizure under any enactment authorises seizing an item the constable has reasonable grounds for believing is subject to legal privilege.
- Warrant power (s.8(2)). A constable may seize and retain anything for which a search has been authorised.
- Retention (s.22). As long as is necessary in all the circumstances (s.22(1)), including for use as evidence at trial, forensic examination, investigation, or to establish the lawful owner (s.22(2)). Nothing may be retained for evidence or forensic examination if a photograph or copy would be sufficient (s.22(4)). Items seized because they might injure, damage property, interfere with evidence or help an escape may not be retained once the person is no longer in police detention or court custody, or is released on bail (s.22(3)).
Disclosure duties that apply to seized material afterwards are on our disclosure and CPIA revision page.
Ranks and authorities: one table to memorise
| Power | Rank | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Section 60 CJPOA | Inspector or above | In writing; locality; grounds; up to 24 hours. Inspector must cause a superintendent or above to be informed as soon as practicable (s.60(3A)). Superintendent or above may extend by a further 24 hours (s.60(3)) |
| Section 60AA CJPOA | Inspector or above for a separate authorisation | Up to 24 hours; superintendent or above may extend by 24 hours (s.60AA(3) and (4)) |
| Section 11 Public Order Act 2023 | Inspector or above | In writing, with grounds, locality and period (s.12(2)); up to 24 hours (s.11(3)). Inspector must cause a superintendent or above to be informed as soon as practicable (s.12(1)). Superintendent or above may extend for a further period not exceeding 24 hours (s.11(5)), in writing or recorded in writing as soon as practicable (s.12(3)) |
| Section 18 PACE | Inspector or above, in writing | Not needed if the search is done before taking the person to a station because their presence elsewhere is necessary for the effective investigation (s.18(5), (5A)); then inform an inspector or above as soon as practicable (s.18(6)) |
| Applying for a PACE warrant (s.8) | Inspector or above, signed written authority | Code B 3.4(a): in an urgent case where no inspector is readily available, the next most senior officer on duty can give it |
| Repeat entry under a multiple-entry warrant | Inspector or above, in writing | s.16(3B); Code B 6.3A says prior written authority from an inspector not involved in the investigation |
| Entering premises not specified in an all-premises warrant | Inspector or above, in writing | s.16(3A); Code B 6.3B: prior authority of an inspector not involved in the investigation |
| Street bail (s.30A) | Custody officer | Authorises the release on bail (s.30A(1A)(b)) |
| Sections 1, 17, 19, 24, 32 PACE; s.23(2) MDA | No authorisation | The constable's own grounds; the constable's own decision |
Keep the pattern simple. Searches that need an authorisation (s.60, s.60AA, s.11 POA 2023, s.18) begin at inspector. Extensions of the suspicionless powers go to superintendent. Repeat entries and warrant applications go to an inspector. Everything else in this page is the constable's own decision, which is why those questions are really about the threshold.
The traps: what the exam is likely to turn on
These are our own selection of recurring distinctions in the law above, based on the statute and Codes, not on any inside knowledge of the paper. Each is a place where a plausible-looking wrong option exists.
| Trap | The rule | How it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Suspect or believe? | Offence and search power: suspect. Necessity to arrest, person on premises (s.17), evidence on premises (s.32): believe | Read the verb in the stem and in each option. An option that swaps one word is a classic distractor |
| A power is not an arrest | s.24(1) to (3) gives the power, s.24(4) makes it exercisable only if arrest is necessary for a s.24(5) reason | If a question says 'had reasonable grounds to suspect an offence', ask whether necessity is also met |
| Obvious grounds | s.28(4): a constable must give the ground even if obvious | 'He was caught in the act, so no need to tell him' is wrong |
| Citizens and names | Name and address are constables-only necessity reasons | A citizen cannot arrest to get a name |
| Citizens and public order | s.24A(5) excludes Public Order Act 1986 Parts 3 and 3A offences | Either-way offences are indictable, so the exclusion has to be spelled out; it is easy to test |
| Citizens and the offence | s.24A(2) needs an indictable offence to have been committed | Suspicion that an offence happened is not enough for the (2) limb |
| Arrest on arrival for a voluntary interview | Code G Note 2G: new information only | The risk the person might walk out is expressly not a valid reason |
| Stopping to find grounds | Code A 2.11: no power to stop or detain to find grounds; a refusal to answer cannot supply grounds | Distinguish a conversation (no power needed) from detention for a search |
| Personal factors | Code A 2.2B: appearance, protected characteristics and previous convictions cannot support suspicion, alone or combined | Unless there is a description of a suspect |
| Section 60 is two thresholds | Authorising officer: reasonable belief. Searching officer: none. Both: constable in uniform | Options that put a suspicion test on the searcher are wrong; so are options that remove the written record and rank |
| 24 hours and 48 hours | s.60 authorisation up to 24 hours; a superintendent can add 24 hours | The section provides for one further 24 hours, by a superintendent or above. An inspector cannot extend. Code A Note 12: an extension may be given only once; after that a new authorisation is needed |
| Warrants: three months or one month | PACE warrants: three months from issue (s.16(3)). Misuse of Drugs Act s.23(3) warrant: within one month | Code B 6.1 also says use the shorter period where the enactment specifies one |
| Who authorises a repeat entry | Inspector or above in writing; under Code B 6.3A an inspector not involved in the investigation | A phone call from the SIO is not enough |
| Section 18 and section 32 swapped | s.18: occupied or controlled, suspecting, inspector authority. s.32: where arrested, believing, no authority, arrest offence only | Scenario questions often mix these in one stem |
| Two dwellings | s.17(2)(b) and s.32(7) limit entry in a building of separate dwellings to common parts and the relevant dwelling | A search of the whole block is wrong |
| Seizure is wider than the warrant | s.19 lets a constable lawfully on the premises seize other items on reasonable grounds and necessity; legal privilege is never seizable (s.19(6)) | Options that say only named items can be seized are wrong |
| Clothing in public | s.2(9): only an outer coat, jacket or gloves in public (s.32(4) is the same for a search on arrest, with a power to search the mouth) | A T-shirt must come off out of public view (Code A 3.6); intimate parts only at a nearby station or other nearby place, not a vehicle (Code A 3.7) |
| Recording the search | No requirement to record or ask for name, address or date of birth of the person searched (Code A 4.3A) | The record does include self-defined and perceived ethnicity (s.3(6)(a)(v), (6A)) |
Ask what the officer must be satisfied of. If it is about the offence or the item (it is there, or the person did it), the word is usually suspect. If it is about the officer's own justification for a coercive step (arrest is necessary, the person is on the premises, evidence is on the premises under s.32), the word is believe. Then check the exceptions, such as s.18 (suspecting evidence is on premises).
Six worked practice questions
These are original practice questions from our verified bank, not real or past exam questions. Each one has been checked against the primary sources; the answer is marked and the reasoning and source follow. Cover the options and answer before you scroll.
At 3am officers find a man inside a house holding a bag of the occupier's jewellery. An officer takes hold of him and says 'You're under arrest', but says nothing about why, because the reason seems obvious. He is calm and compliant, but he is not told the ground for his arrest until he reaches the custody desk two hours later. Which statement is correct?
Section 28(3) provides that no arrest is lawful unless the person is told the ground at the time of arrest or as soon as practicable afterwards. Section 28(4) makes that apply to arrests by a constable even where the ground is obvious. The only statutory exception is in s.28(5), where it was not reasonably practicable to give the information because the person escaped before it could be given. Code G para 3.3 and Note 3 also require the person to be told why the arrest is necessary.
Source: PACE 1984 s.28; Code G paras 2.2, 3.3 and Note 3
A person other than a constable may arrest without warrant under s.24A PACE only if, among other things, they have reasonable grounds for believing that arrest is necessary for one of the listed reasons. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?
The reasons available to a citizen under s.24A(4) are to prevent the person causing physical injury to himself or another, suffering physical injury, causing loss of or damage to property, or making off before a constable can assume responsibility for him. Ascertaining a name or address is a necessity reason for constables only, under s.24(5)(a) and (b). A citizen's arrest also requires that it appears not reasonably practicable for a constable to make the arrest instead (s.24A(3)(b)).
Source: PACE 1984 s.24A(3) and (4); s.24(5)
An officer on foot patrol has no particular grounds for suspicion when she approaches a teenager in a park and asks what is in his rucksack. He politely declines to answer and carries on walking. Nothing else about his behaviour is unusual. The officer then detains him for a search under s.1 PACE, saying his refusal to answer makes her suspicious. What is the position under Code A?
Code A para 2.11 states there is no power to stop or detain a person in order to find grounds for a search. Para 2.9 says reasonable grounds cannot be provided retrospectively by questioning, or by a refusal to answer questions. Note 1 confirms that, without a power to arrest or detain to search, the person is free to leave at will. If genuine grounds had come out of the conversation, the officer could have detained him at that point.
Source: PACE Code A paras 2.2, 2.9, 2.11 and Note 1
How does a search authorised under s.60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 differ from a standard s.1 PACE search?
Section 60 is a suspicion-independent power: once a senior officer has authorised it for a specific locality and time period (typically because of anticipated serious violence), officers can search individuals within that area without needing reasonable suspicion about that particular person, unlike s.1 PACE.
Source: s.60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; PACE Code A
A suspect is arrested for burglary outside his house. He says the stolen jewellery is hidden somewhere in the house and offers to show officers where. Officers decide that his presence there is necessary for the effective investigation of the offence. They search the house with him before taking him to the police station, without any prior written authority. What must happen after the search?
Section 18(5) and (5A) allow a s.18 search before the person is taken to a police station, without inspector authorisation, where his presence at a place other than a police station is necessary for the effective investigation of the offence. Section 18(6) then requires the constable to inform an inspector or above as soon as practicable. Section 18(7) requires that officer to record the grounds for the search and the nature of the evidence sought. Under s.18(8), that record goes in the custody record if the occupier is in police detention.
Source: PACE 1984 s.18(1) and (4)-(8); Code B para 4.3
A s.8 PACE warrant authorises up to three entries to a lock-up garage. Officers carried out the first entry last week. A detective sergeant now wants to enter a second time. The detective inspector who is senior investigating officer on the case says over the phone that the sergeant can go ahead. What does the law require before the second entry?
Section 16(3B) provides that no premises may be entered or searched a second or later time under a multiple-entry warrant unless an inspector or above has authorised that entry in writing. Code B para 6.3A adds that this must be the prior written authority of an inspector who is not involved in the investigation. Here the SIO is involved in the investigation and only gave oral approval, so the phone call does not meet either requirement.
Source: PACE 1984 ss.8(1C)-(1D), 15(5A) and 16(3B); Code B para 6.3A
For more, our free mini mock is at the free sergeant exam mock. Our toolkit (we make it, so weigh this accordingly) also has a larger bank of verified questions on these chapters, with timed sittings and progress tracking, at the exam prep toolkit. Neither replaces the Manuals, which are the syllabus.
Map to Blackstone's chapters
These chapter numbers are Blackstone's 2026 edition, as listed in Appendix A of the College's 2026 candidate handbook (September 2025). We could not open the 2027 handbook's Appendix A, so we have not verified the 2027 edition numbering. If you are sitting in 2027, check the contents page of your 2027 Manuals before relying on these numbers.
| Chapter | Sub-headings listed | Covered on this page |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Stop and Search (3.1.1 to 3.1.8) | Introduction; Code A 1 principles; Code A 2 types of powers (s.1 PACE, s.23 MDA, s.60 CJPOA and others); Code A 3 conduct; Code A 4 recording; Code A 5 monitoring; Annexes A to C | Stop and search, s.1, MDA s.23, s.60, Code A traps |
| 3.2 Entry, Search and Seizure (3.2.1 to 3.2.13) | Code B 1 and 2; Code B 3 warrants and production orders; search warrants for indictable offences; execution of a warrant; Code B 4 entry without warrant; Code B 5 consent; Code B 6 searching; Code B 7 seizure and retention; Code B 8 to 10 (action after searches, search registers, TPIM and National Security Act searches) | Entry, warrants and seizure sections above |
| 3.3 Powers of Arrest (3.3.1 to 3.3.11) | Legal characteristics of an arrest; Code G 1 to 4; arrest without warrant, citizens' arrest; other powers of arrest without warrant; arrest under warrant; voluntary attendance at a police station; after arrest | Arrest, citizens' arrest, s.28, voluntary attendance and taking to a station sections above |
| 2.2 Release of Person Arrested | Pre-charge release and bail, police bail restrictions, liability to arrest for absconding or breaking bail conditions | Street bail (s.30A) and the s.30D arrest power; see also the Code C page |
| 2.1 Instituting Criminal Proceedings (2.1.5 and 2.1.6) | Issue of warrants; execution of warrants | Not covered here; the handbook lists them in the Evidence and procedure volume |
We have read the chapter titles and sub-headings in the handbook, not the text of the Manuals, so the map shows where to look, not what each chapter contains in detail.
How much of the exam does this topic take?
Nobody can say in advance. The College says the subject area breakdown for a sitting is valid only for that sitting and should not be used to work out what will be tested in future. For context only, here is a count of the March 2026 sergeants' breakdown, which lists one row per scored question (140 rows). We counted the rows under three General police duties skills.
| Skill | Rows | Subjects listed |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, search and seizure | 5 | Code B-3 Search warrants and production orders; Code B-4 Entry without warrant, particular powers; Code B-7 Seizure and retention of property; Execution of a warrant; Code B-10 Searches under Schedule 5 to the TPIM Act 2011 and Schedule 11 to the National Security Act 2023 |
| Powers of arrest | 4 | After arrest; Arrest without warrant, citizen's arrest; Code G-3 Information to be given on arrest; Voluntary attendance at a police station or elsewhere |
| Stop and search | 3 | Code A-2 Types of stop and search powers (two rows); Code A-3 Conduct of searches |
| Total of the three skills | 12 | Of 140 scored questions. The rows shown are subject descriptions, not question wording |
Three further rows under Instituting criminal proceedings (Issue of warrants once, Execution of warrants twice) sit in the Evidence and procedure area and are not counted above. Treat the table as a description of one paper, not a forecast. Powers of arrest also feed other areas: for example, the necessity reasons matter to detention, and entry powers matter to seizure and disclosure.
Worked scenarios
Illustrative examples, not real incidents, to practise applying the rules above.
Revision checklist
- I can state both limbs of s.24 and list the six necessity reasons in s.24(5).
- I can say which verb (suspect or believe) goes with which power.
- I know the four s.24A reasons, the indictable-only limit and the Part 3 and 3A exclusion.
- I know that s.28 applies even when the fact and ground are obvious, and the single exception.
- I can set out what Code G Note 2G allows and forbids on arrest at a voluntary interview.
- I can state the s.1 test, Code A 2.2 two parts, and the rule against stopping to find grounds.
- I know the s.60 rank, 24 hours, extension and inform rules, and what the searcher must say.
- I know the Code A rules on where clothing may be removed.
- I can compare s.17, s.18 and s.32 in a table from memory, including authority.
- I know three months (PACE warrant), one month (MDA warrant), and who authorises repeat entries.
- I know s.19 seizure and s.22 retention, including the photograph-or-copy rule and legal privilege.
- I have tried the worked questions above, and a mixed set, under time.
When you are ready for the next topic, the theft, robbery and burglary page covers the offences these powers are often used for, and the public order offences page covers offences such as s.4 Public Order Act 1986, which is one of the offences listed in s.17(1)(c) for entry to arrest.
What we could not verify
- 2027 edition chapter numbers. The chapters above are the 2026 edition per the 2026 handbook Appendix A. The 2027 handbook Appendix A could not be opened. Check your own 2027 contents page.
- What the Manuals say. We read statute and Codes on legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK, and chapter headings in the handbook. We did not read the Blackstone's text, so how a chapter words or emphasises a point may differ. The exam tests the law as it appears in the Manuals edition for the sitting.
- Recent amendments. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 amends parts of PACE and the CJPOA 1994 (for example, s.60(9B) was inserted on 29 June 2026). We did not review every 2026 amendment and cannot say which the 2026 or 2027 Manuals reflect. Law that changes after publication is examined only if the College gives notice.
- Public Order Act 2023 powers. We checked ss.11 and 12 (rank, belief test, 24-hour maximum, extension, informing a superintendent). We did not check s.10 or the offences in s.11(1)(a) in detail, and the Manuals may cover them elsewhere.
- Case law. We deliberately left out case names because we could not confirm holdings from a primary source we could open.
- Other arrest and search powers. Mental Health Act powers, Terrorism Act powers, arrest under warrant, road check powers under s.4 PACE and drug-driving or firearms search powers are in the Manuals but not covered here. Chapter 3.3 and the sibling pages cover some of them.
- What will be examined. The College says each subject area breakdown is valid only for its own sitting. Our count of 12 rows is a description of March 2026 only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between reasonable grounds to suspect and reasonable grounds to believe?
In these chapters the statute uses both words deliberately, and the exam tests the difference. Suspicion is the lower threshold and is used for the offence (s.24(1) to (3)) and for the stop and search powers (s.1 PACE and s.23 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971). Belief is used for the necessity to arrest (s.24(4)), for the presence of the person on premises (s.17(2)(a)), and for the presence of evidence under s.32(6). Both must still be reasonable, meaning an objective basis that another person could accept (Code A para 2.2 and Code G para 2.3A).
Does a constable have to be sure that arrest is the only option?
No. Code G Note 2C says a constable need not be satisfied that there is no viable alternative to arrest, but should consider that arrest is the practical, sensible and proportionate option at the time. At least one of the six necessity reasons in s.24(5) must apply (Code G para 2.5), and it can never be necessary to arrest someone unless there are reasonable grounds to suspect them of an offence (Code G para 2.1).
Can an arrest be lawful if the person is not told why until later?
Only if the delay was as soon as practicable. Section 28(3) says no arrest is lawful unless the person is told the ground at the time or as soon as practicable afterwards, and s.28(4) says that applies to a constable even where the ground is obvious. The one statutory exception, in s.28(5), is where it was not reasonably practicable because the person escaped before the information could be given.
Can a member of the public arrest for any offence?
No. Under s.24A only for an indictable offence (which includes either-way offences), and only where the arrester has reasonable grounds for believing arrest is necessary for one of four reasons and it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to do it instead. The power does not apply to offences under Part 3 or Part 3A of the Public Order Act 1986 (s.24A(5)). Under s.24A(2) the power applies only where an indictable offence has in fact been committed.
Who can authorise a section 60 search, and for how long?
An officer of inspector rank or above, in writing, for a specified locality and a period not exceeding 24 hours (s.60(1) and (9)). A superintendent or above can extend it by a further 24 hours (s.60(3)). An inspector who gives an authorisation must cause a superintendent or above to be informed as soon as practicable (s.60(3A)). An oral authorisation is allowed only in the incident-has-happened case in s.60(1)(aa) where writing is not practicable (s.60(9ZA)).
Do officers need reasonable suspicion to search under section 60?
Not about the person or vehicle. Once an authorisation is in force, a constable in uniform may stop and search whether or not there are grounds for suspecting the person or vehicle is carrying weapons (s.60(4) and (5)). The suspicion-like threshold sits with the authorising officer, who must reasonably believe one of the conditions in s.60(1). The searching officer must still explain the power, the authorisation and the fact that it has been given (Code A para 3.8).
How long does a PACE search warrant last, and can it be used twice?
Entry and search under a PACE warrant must be within three months of issue (s.16(3)), and a warrant authorises one entry only unless it specifies multiple entries (s.15(5)). For second and later entries under a multiple-entry warrant, an inspector or above must authorise the entry in writing (s.16(3B)), and Code B para 6.3A adds that this is the prior written authority of an inspector not involved in the investigation. A Misuse of Drugs Act s.23(3) warrant is different: it lasts one month.
Which senior officer authorises a section 18 search?
An inspector or above, in writing (s.18(4)), unless the search is carried out before the arrested person is taken to a police station because their presence elsewhere is necessary for the effective investigation of the offence (s.18(5) and (5A)). In that case no prior authority is needed, but the constable must inform an inspector or above as soon as practicable (s.18(6)), and that officer records the grounds and the nature of the evidence sought (s.18(7)), in the custody record if the occupier is in police detention (s.18(8)).
What is the difference between a section 18 and a section 32 search?
Section 18 covers premises occupied or controlled by a person arrested for an indictable offence, for evidence of that offence or a connected or similar indictable offence, on reasonable grounds for suspecting it is there. Section 32(2)(b) covers premises where the person was when arrested or immediately before, for evidence relating to the arrest offence only, on reasonable grounds for believing it is there. Section 18 normally needs inspector authority in writing, and s.32 does not.
Can officers seize things that are not named in the warrant?
Yes, if another power applies. A constable lawfully on premises may seize anything on the premises under s.19(2) or (3) if they have reasonable grounds for believing it was obtained in consequence of an offence or is evidence of an offence, and it is necessary to seize it to prevent it being concealed, lost, damaged, altered or destroyed. Items the constable reasonably believes to be subject to legal privilege cannot be seized under any power (s.19(6)).
Can officers keep seized property for the whole of a trial?
Only as long as necessary in all the circumstances (s.22(1)), and not for evidence or forensic examination if a photograph or copy would be sufficient (s.22(4)). Retention of items seized because they might cause injury, damage property, interfere with evidence or help an escape ends when the person is no longer in police detention or court custody, or is on bail (s.22(3)).
Is a person who attends voluntarily for interview free to leave?
Yes. Under s.29 a person who attends voluntarily, or accompanies a constable, to help with an investigation is entitled to leave at will unless arrested, and must be informed at once that they are under arrest if a decision is taken to prevent them leaving. Code G Note 2G says that the possibility they might leave during the interview is not a valid reason to arrest them on arrival before the interview starts.
Does this page cover everything in Blackstone's chapters 3.1 to 3.3?
No. It covers the powers the exam most plausibly turns on and the traps in them. The Manuals also cover other arrest powers, arrest under warrant, terrorism-related search powers, search registers and more, and the exam tests the law only as it appears in the Manuals edition for the sitting. Use this page to organise your revision and the chapter map below to find the rest.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 4 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- legislation.gov.uk: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, sections 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 24A, 28, 29, 30, 30A, 30B, 32 — opened 4 October 2026 as in force; every section number, rank, time limit and 'suspecting' or 'believing' wording on this page was checked against these sections (the URL pattern is the same for each section). Section 1 now also covers corrosive substances and certain fireworks, and s.1(8) includes the protest-related offences added by the Public Order Act 2023 (accessed 4 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, sections 60, 60AA and 61 — s.60 authorisation grounds, inspector rank, 24 hours, superintendent extension, informing a superintendent, writing, no-suspicion search in uniform, one-month or level 3 penalty for failing to stop, 12-month written statement; s.60AA face coverings. The page shows s.60(9B) inserted 29 June 2026 by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the Ministry of Defence Police, which does not change the points here (accessed 4 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, section 23 — s.23(2) search on reasonable grounds to suspect possession of a controlled drug, with no authorisation requirement; s.23(3) warrant from a justice of the peace, valid within one month (accessed 4 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Public Order Act 2023, sections 11 and 12 — inspector's authorisation for suspicionless stop and search for protest-related prohibited objects, up to 24 hours, superintendent extension for a further period not exceeding 24 hours (s.11(5)); section 12 for writing and informing a superintendent (accessed 4 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: PACE Code A (stop and search), December 2023 edition — paras 2.2, 2.2A, 2.2B, 2.9 to 2.11, 2.12 to 2.14C, 3.5 to 3.9, 4.3A and Notes 1 and 10 to 12 as quoted; the GOV.UK codes index lists this as the current Code A (accessed 4 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: PACE Code B (entry, search and seizure), 2023 edition — paras 3.1, 3.4, 3.8, 4.1 to 4.3, 5.1 to 5.3 and Note 5A, 6.1 to 6.3B, 6.5, 6.7 (accessed 4 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: PACE Code G (statutory power of arrest), 2012 — paras 1.2, 2.1 to 2.9, 3.3 to 3.6, 4.1; Notes 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I and 3. The GOV.UK codes index lists Code G 2012 as current (accessed 4 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: PACE codes of practice index — confirms which edition of each Code is current as at 4 October 2026 (Code A 2023, Code B 2023, Code G 2012) (accessed 4 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NPPF step two legal examinations candidate handbook 2026 (PDF, September 2025), Appendix A — Blackstone's 2026 edition chapter list: Volume 3 chapters 3.1 Stop and Search, 3.2 Entry, Search and Seizure, 3.3 Powers of Arrest and their sub-headings (handbook pages 53 to 55); 2.1 and 2.2 sub-headings; the 2027 handbook Appendix A could not be opened (accessed 4 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NPPF sergeants' step-two legal examination, subject area breakdown, March 2026 (PDF) — 140 rows, one per scored question; we counted the rows under the General police duties skills Entry, search and seizure (5), Powers of arrest (4) and Stop and search (3); the College says the breakdown is valid only for March 2026 (accessed 4 October 2026)
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PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by the College of Policing or Oxford University Press (Blackstone's). Exam rules, dates, syllabus editions and prices change, so check the College of Policing's current candidate handbook and exam pages before you register or buy. Practice material on this site is original and is not real exam content. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 4 October 2026.