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December 20
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2023
Overview
This page covers the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the accompanying PACE codes of practice, which establish the powers of the police to combat crimes while protecting the rights of the public.
PACE codes of practice
PACE sets out to strike the right balance between the powers of the police and the rights and freedoms of the public. Maintaining that balance is a central element of PACE.
The PACE codes of practice cover:
- stop and search
- arrest
- detention
- investigation
- identification
- interviewing detainees
Current versions of the codes
| Code | Subjects covered |
|---|---|
| CodeA2023 | Exercise by police officers of statutory powers to search a person or a vehicle without first making an arrest and the need for a police officer to make a record of a stop or encounter |
| CodeB2023 | Police powers to search premises and to seize and retain property found on premises and persons |
| CodeC2023 | Requirements for the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects not related to terrorism in police custody by police officers. Includes the requirement to explain a persons rights while detained and the requirement to explain the rights of a person who has not been arrested that apply to a voluntary interview. |
| CodeD2023 | Main methods used by the police to identify people in connection with the investigation of offences and the keeping of accurate and reliable criminal records |
| CodeE2018 | Audio recording of interviews with suspects in the police station |
| CodeF2018 | Visual recording with sound of interviews with suspects - there is no statutory requirement on police officers to visually record interviews, but the contents of this code should be considered if an interviewing officer decides to make a visual recording with sound of an interview with a suspect |
| CodeG2012 | Powers of arrest under section 24 the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as amended by section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 |
| CodeH2023 | Requirements for the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects related to terrorism in police custody by police officers. Includes the requirement to explain a persons rights while detained in connection with terrorism |
| Code I 2023 | Detention, treatment and questioning by police of persons in detention under section 27 of, and Schedule 6 to, the National Security Act 2023 |
The latest version of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice on detention and custody is published on the College of Policing website under Authorised Professional Practice in the detention and custody section
Previous versions
Previous versions of the codes are shown below, by the date they came into force.