Stop and Account

A police officer might stop you and ask:

• what your name is

• what you’re doing in the area

• where you’re going

You don’t have to stop or answer any questions. If you don’t and there’s no other reason to suspect you, a police officer does not have the power to force you to stay with them

 
Who can carry out a ‘stop and account’?

• a police officer 

 A police officer does not have to be in uniform, but if they are not wearing uniform they must show you their identity (warrant) card.

You should not be stopped or searched just because of:

• your age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or faith  
• the way you look or dress, the language you speak  
• because you have committed a crime in the past.

If you believe this is why you were stopped or searched, you can make a complaint. 

What is recorded and your right to a receipt

If you are stopped the officer will only record, using their Airwave radio, your self-defined ethnicity and the date and time of the Stop and Account.

You will be given a customer contact card showing the date and time you were stopped and the officer’s name and details. This is only necessary if practicable for the officer and if the customer wishes to wait.