http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/3Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984An Act to make further provision in relation to the powers and duties of the police, persons in police detention, criminal evidence, police discipline and complaints against the police; to provide for arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing and for a rank of deputy chief constable; to amend the law relating to the Police Federations and Police Forces and Police Cadets in Scotland; and for connected purposes.1984-10-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-27Expert Participation2026-04-29 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 64A(1B)(cb)Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022Sch. 11 para. 18(a)Sch. 11 para. 19s. 208(1)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 47A(3A)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 2 para. 7s. 51(4)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984Sch. 1A para. 21ALondon Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006Sch. 3 para. 13s. 40(5)s. 40(2)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 63B(1)(d)Crime and Policing Act 2026s. 185(2)s. 255(1)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 63B(4C)Crime and Policing Act 2026s. 185(4)s. 255(1)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 38(1)(a)(iiia)Crime and Policing Act 2026s. 186(3)(a)(i)s. 255(1)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 61(6BA)Counter-Terrorism Act 2008s. 10(1)s. 101(2)s. 100(5)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 63(3D)Counter-Terrorism Act 2008s. 10(2)s. 101(2)s. 100(5)Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984s. 64(1AA)Counter-Terrorism Act 2008s. 10(4)s. 101(2)s. 100(5) Part I31Where a constable has carried out a search in the exercise of any such power as is mentioned in section 2(1) above, other than a search—aunder section 6 below; orbunder section 27(2) of the Aviation Security Act 1982, a record of the search shall be made in writing unless it is not practicable to do so.2If a record of a search is required to be made by subsection (1) above—ain a case where the search results in a person being arrested and taken to a police station, the constable shall secure that the record is made as part of the person's custody record;bin any other case, the constable shall make the record on the spot, or, if that is not practicable, as soon as practicable after the completion of the search.3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6The record of a search of a person or a vehicle—ashall state—ithe object of the search;iithe grounds for making it;iiithe date and time when it was made;ivthe place where it was made;vexcept in the case of a search of an unattended vehicle, the ethnic origins of the person searched or the person in charge of the vehicle searched (as the case may be); and;bshall identify the constable who carried out the search.6AThe requirement in subsection (6)(a)(v) above for a record to state a person's ethnic origins is a requirement to state—athe ethnic origins of the person as described by the person, andbif different, the ethnic origins of the person as perceived by the constable.7If a record of a search of a person has been made under this section, the person who was searched shall be entitled to a copy of the record if he asks for one before the end of the period specified in subsection (9) below.8If—athe owner of a vehicle which has been searched or the person who was in charge of the vehicle at the time when it was searched asked for a copy of the record of the search before the end of the period specified in subsection (9) below; andba record of the search of the vehicle has been made under this section,the person who made the request shall be entitled to a copy.9The period mentioned in subsections (7) and (8) above is the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which the search was made.10The requirements imposed by this section with regard to records of searches of vehicles shall apply also to records of searches of vessels, aircraft and hovercraft.1982 c. 36. Pt. I incorporated (E.W.S.) (16.5.2008) by The London Gateway Port Harbour Empowerment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1261), art. 52S. 3(1)(2) applied (with modifications) (30.4.2017) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Labour Abuse Prevention Officers) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/520), regs. 1, 2, 3(c), Sch.S. 3(6)(6A) applied (with modifications) (30.4.2017) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Labour Abuse Prevention Officers) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/520), regs. 1, 2, 3(c), Sch.S. 3(8)(b) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(8), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)Words in s. 3(7) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(7), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)S. 3(7) applied (with modifications) (30.4.2017) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Labour Abuse Prevention Officers) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/520), regs. 1, 2, 3(c), Sch.S. 3(6A) inserted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(6), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)Words in s. 3(6)(b) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(5)(b), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)S. 3(2) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(3), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)Words in s. 3(9) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(9), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)S. 3(3)-(5) repealed (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(4), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)S. 3(9) applied (with modifications) (30.4.2017) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Labour Abuse Prevention Officers) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/520), regs. 1, 2, 3(c), Sch.S. 3(6)(a)(v) substituted for s. 3(6)(a)(v)(vi) (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(5)(a), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)Words in s. 3(1) substituted (7.3.2011) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 1(2), 59(1); S.I. 2011/414, art. 2(a)S. 3 applied in part (with modifications) (7.4.2026) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Enforcement Officers) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/303), regs. 1(1), 3, 4(c), Sch. paras. 1-10, 13