KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE

Words to use:

“No sir, this is a private event/home/place, you may not enter without a warrant.”

You Have to Say “No” Clearly:

Even if a normal person would feel very intimidated and would not reasonably feel they could say “no.” If you do what a policeman tells you to do before you are arrested, you are “voluntarily” complying with their “requests.” Of course, refusing to comply might lead to a resisting arrest charge, so it is a very fine line to walk.

Until you say “No, I am not willing to allow you to do that,” you are simply cooperating as a peer with the law enforcement officer who is trying to make the world safer. When you say “no” to a request by a police officer, you are asserting your lawful rights as a private citizen

Stop and question: police powers

A police officer might stop you and ask:

• what your name is
• what you’re doing in the area
• where you’re going

You don’t have to stop or answer any questions. If you don’t and there’s no other reason to suspect you, then this alone can’t be used as a reason to search or arrest you.

Stop and search: police powers

A police officer has powers to stop and search you if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect you’re carrying:

• illegal drugs
• a weapon
• stolen property
• something which could be used to commit a crime, such as a crowbar

You can only be stopped and searched without reasonable grounds if it has been approved by a senior police officer. This can happen if it is suspected that:

• serious violence could take place
• you’re carrying a weapon or have used one
• you’re in a specific location or area

Before you’re searched

Before you’re searched the police officer must tell you:

• their name and police station
• what they expect to find, for example drugs
• the reason they want to search you, for example if it looks like you’re hiding something
• why they are legally allowed to search you
• that you can have a record of the search and if this isn’t possible at the time, how you can get a copy

GIFT THESE CARDS TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES