Consultation outcome

Revising PACE Code A (2022)

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Government response to Home Office consultation on PACE Code A (Stop and Search)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) – Code A: Revised Code of Practice for the exercise by police officers of statutory powers of stop and search

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Detail of outcome

The Home Office consultation on proposed revisions to Code of Practice A (Stop and Search) closed on 27 June 2022.

We proposed amendments to Code A to include powers in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs). SVROs are a new civil order which give the police powers to stop and search individuals convicted of an offence where a knife or offensive weapon was used or was present.

The revised Code A includes a temporary new Annex (Annex G) for the purposes of the pilot for SVROs, which outlines the powers under section 324E of the Sentencing Code (in relation to individuals subject to an SVRO) and the considerations police officers should make when deciding to conduct a search on individuals.

This response summarises the feedback received.

This revised Code A was laid before Parliament on 13 October 2022. Following parliamentary approval, the revised code came into force on 17 January 2023.

Read the new Code A 2023.


Original consultation

Summary

This draft version of code A is being circulated for consultation in accordance with section 67(4) of PACE.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This draft version of code A is being circulated for consultation in accordance with section 67(4) of PACE. Code A concerns the exercise by police officers of statutory powers to search a person or a vehicle without first making an arrest.

The draft code has a covering note and detailed table outlining the changes and their purpose.

The new revisions are necessary to bring the code in line with current legislation in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 which introduced Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVRO) into Part 11 of the Sentencing Code.

SVROs are a new civil order which give the police powers to stop and search individuals convicted of an offence where a knife or offensive weapon was present. The order will be piloted in West Midlands, Merseyside, Thames Valley and Sussex Police forces before a decision is made on roll out across England and Wales. Full details on SVROs can be found here.

Documents

Draft revised PACE Code A (OpenDocument text)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Draft revised PACE Code A (Word)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Letter to consultees

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 17 May 2022
Last updated 13 October 2022 + show all updates
  1. Revised Code of Practice for the exercise by police officers of statutory powers of stop and search added to final outcome.

  2. Government response to consultation added.

  3. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page