http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/55Police 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 Part V Questioning and Treatment of Persons by PoliceIntimate searches551Subject to the following provisions of this section, if an officer of at least the rank of inspector has reasonable grounds for believing—athat a person who has been arrested and is in police detention may have concealed on him anything which—ihe could use to cause physical injury to himself or others; andiihe might so use while he is in police detention or in the custody of a court; orbthat such a person—imay have a Class A drug concealed on him; andiiwas in possession of it with the appropriate criminal intent before his arrest,he may authorise an intimate search of that person.2An officer may not authorise an intimate search of a person for anything unless he has reasonable grounds for believing that it cannot be found without his being intimately searched.3An officer may give an authorisation under subsection (1) above orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.3AA drug offence search shall not be carried out unless the appropriate consent has been given in writing.3BWhere it is proposed that a drug offence search be carried out, an appropriate officer shall inform the person who is to be subject to it—aof the giving of the authorisation for it; andbof the grounds for giving the authorisation.4An intimate search which is only a drug offence search shall be by way of examination by a suitably qualified person.5Except as provided by subsection (4) above, an intimate search shall be by way of examination by a suitably qualified person unless an officer of at least the rank of inspector considers that this is not practicable.6An intimate search which is not carried out as mentioned in subsection (5) above shall be carried out by a constable.7A constable may not carry out an intimate search of a person of the opposite sex.8No intimate search may be carried out except—aat a police station;bat a hospital;cat a registered medical practitioner’s surgery; ordat some other place used for medical purposes.9An intimate search which is only a drug offence search may not be carried out at a police station.10If an intimate search of a person is carried out, the custody record relating to him shall state—awhich parts of his body were searched; andbwhy they were searched.10AIf the intimate search is a drug offence search, the custody record relating to that person shall also state—athe authorisation by virtue of which the search was carried out;bthe grounds for giving the authorisation; andcthe fact that the appropriate consent was given.11The information required to be recorded by subsections (10) and (10A) above shall be recorded as soon as practicable after the completion of the search.12The custody officer at a police station may seize and retain anything which is found on an intimate search of a person, or cause any such thing to be seized and retained—aif he believes that the person from whom it is seized may use it—ito cause physical injury to himself or any other person;iito damage property;iiito interfere with evidence; orivto assist him to escape; orbif he has reasonable grounds for believing that it may be evidence relating to an offence.13Where anything is seized under this section, the person from whom it is seized shall be told the reason for the seizure unless he is—aviolent or likely to become violent; orbincapable of understanding what is said to him.13AWhere the appropriate consent to a drug offence search of any person was refused without good cause, in any proceedings against that person for an offence—athe court, in determining whether there is a case to answer;ba judge, in deciding whether to grant an application made by the accused under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (applications for dismissal); andcthe court or jury, in determining whether that person is guilty of the offence charged,may draw such inferences from the refusal as appear proper.14Every annual report—aunder section 22 of the Police Act 1996; orbmade by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis,shall contain information about searches under this section which have been carried out in the area to which the report relates during the period to which it relates.14A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15The information about such searches shall include—athe total number of searches;bthe number of searches conducted by way of examination by a suitably qualified person;cthe number of searches not so conducted but conducted in the presence of such a person; anddthe result of the searches carried out.16The information shall also include, as separate items—athe total number of drug offence searches; andbthe result of those searches.17In this section—“the appropriate criminal intent” means an intent to commit an offence under—asection 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (possession of controlled drug with intent to supply to another); orbsection 68(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (exportation etc. with intent to evade a prohibition or restriction);“appropriate officer” means—a constable,.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Class A drug” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(1)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971;“drug offence search” means an intimate search for a Class A drug which an officer has authorised by virtue of subsection (1)(b) above; and“suitably qualified person” means—aa registered medical practitioner; orba registered nurse.Ss. 8, 9, 15, 16, 17(1)(b(2) (4), 18–20, 21, 22(1)–(4), 28, 29, 30(1)–(4)(a)(5)–(11), 31, 32(1)–(9), 34(1)–(5), 35, 36, 37, 39, 40–44, 50, 51(d), 52, 54, 55, 64(1)–(4)(5)(6), Sch. 1 applied with modifications by S.I. 1985/1800, arts. 3–11, Schs. 1, 2S. 55(1)-(3)(5)(6)-(10)(12)(17) applied (with modifications) (1.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/15, art. 2(1), Sch.S. 55(4)(11)(13) applied (1.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/15, art. 2(1), Sch.S. 55 extended (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, art. 6, Sch. 3 paras. 1(2)(b), 3(2)(3); s. 55 extended by the said S.I. 1993/1813, art. 6, Sch. 3 paras. 3, 4 as incorporated (with modifications) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1994/1405, art. 6, Sch. 3 paras. 4(b), 5Words in s. 55(1)(5) inserted (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 79, 138(2); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(g)Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 170(1), Sch. 15 para. 99S. 55(14)(a) substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, ss. 103(1), 104(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 361996 C. 16. 1971 c. 38. 1979 c. 2. S. 55(6) extended (2.12.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 38, Sch. 4 Pt. 3 para. 28(1); S.I. 2002/2750, art. 2(a)(ii)(d)S. 55(7) applied (2.12.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 38, Sch. 4 Pt. 3 para. 28(2); S.I. 2002/2750, art. 2(a)(ii)(d)S. 55: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41), ss. 171(3)(b), 221; S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to savings in Order (as amended by S.I. 2003/3312, art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3258, art. 2(2)))S. 55 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2004) by The Extradition Act 2003 (Police Powers) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/3106), art. 2S. 55(3A)(3B) inserted (1.1.2006) by Drugs Act 2005 (c. 17), ss. 3(2), 24; S.I. 2005/3053, art. 3(b)S. 55(10A) inserted (1.1.2006) by Drugs Act 2005 (c. 17), ss. 3(3), 24; S.I. 2005/3053, art. 3(b)Words in s. 55(11) substituted (1.1.2006) by Drugs Act 2005 (c. 17), ss. 3(4), 24; S.I. 2005/3053, art. 3(b)S. 55(13A) inserted (1.1.2006) by Drugs Act 2005 (c. 17), ss. 3(5), 24; S.I. 2005/3053, art. 3(b)S. 55(17): definition of “appropriate officer” inserted (1.1.2006) by Drugs Act 2005 (c. 17), ss. 3(6), 24; S.I. 2005/3053, art. 3(b)S. 55(14A) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 174, 178, Sch. 4 para. 45, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 12, 13(q) (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))S. 55 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2006) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to the Armed Forces) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2015), arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1-3Pt. V incorporated (16.5.2008) by The London Gateway Port Harbour Empowerment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1261), art. 52Words in s. 55(17) definition of “appropriate officer” repealed (12.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 112(1)(2), 116(6), Sch. 7 para. 123(5), Sch. 8 Pt. 13S. 55 applied (with modifications) (4.11.2015) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Revenue and Customs) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1783), arts. 1, 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2), (3), 4-19, Sch. 2)S. 55(1)(a)(2)(3)(5)-(8)(10)(11)-(13)(14)(15)(17) applied (with modifications) (25.6.2013) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 12(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (with arts. 13-31)Words in s. 55(17) omitted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 15.12.2017 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 12 para. 7(2); S.I. 2017/1139, reg. 2(k) (as amended by S.I. 2017/1162, reg. 2)