FOI 82160
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 82160
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 17th May 2021. Please find below the response to your request:
I request the following information under Freedom of information request:
- Do police officers have to give you 3 forms of identity when they search you?
- When a complaint is made about an officer/police staff how long does this stay on their file
Reply:-
- There are several different powers under which officers can carry out a person search – the most common being a stop search (under S1 PACE or S23 Misuse of Drugs Act) and a search following arrest (S32 PACE or Code C PACE ).
In relation to stop searches, the legislation states that if an officer is not in uniform, they must show their warrant card; there is no such requirement if the officer is in uniform. When using stop search powers, all officers should identify themselves – when using powers under the Terrorism Act, collar numbers are to be provided in lieu of names.
For a search after arrest (S32 or in custody), there is no mention of any requirement to show any form of identification.
- This is not an easy question to answer, as it depends upon how the complaint is finalised (for example, did the complaint result in a criminal conviction, a finding of (gross)misconduct, was/was not upheld). Without further context, all West Mercia Police can confirm is that we do keep records of complaints made against officers/staff members.