How does Stop and Search work, what is Section 60 and why do police want to scrap the ‘reasonable grounds’ condition?
Police can currently stop and search anybody but only with the permission of a senior officer
IN the UK, police codes outline that officers must have reasonable grounds for a stop and search and should not be biased towards a particular person or group.
But with violent crime rising at a worrying rate across Britain's cities, particularly in London, there have been renewed calls to revise or at least drop the rule.
What is stop and search?
Police can stop and question civilians at any time - and they can search you depending on the situation.
An officer has powers to stop and search if they have 'reasonable grounds' to suspect you're carrying illegal drugs, a weapon, stolen property or a tool that could be used to commit a crime such as a crowbar.
You can only be stopped a searched without reasonable grounds if it has been approved by a senior police officer.
This can happen if it is suspected that a serious violence can take place or if you're carrying a weapon.
You can also be searched if you're in a specific location or area.
What is Section 60?
Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows a police officer to stop and search a person without suspicion.
Where a Section 60 is in place, it means police can search anyone in a certain area, for example, when there is evidence that serious violence has taken place or may take place.
It is set for a limited time and allows officers to stop and search people without reasonable grounds.
Why do police want to scrap the 'reasonable grounds' condition?
Police chiefs want to trigger an expansion of stop and search by lowering the level of suspicion an officer needs against a suspect to use the power.
They want to scrap the requirement that “reasonable grounds” are needed before a person can be subjected to a search, amid mounting concern over knife attacks.
The proposals, which apply to England and Wales, would also make it more likely that those caught with a knife could be dealt with by an education programme, the so-called public health approach, rather than ending up before the courts.