section 60 stop and search
Stop and search powers under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 that give the police powers to stop and search people and vehicles, without suspicion, for “offensive weapons or dangerous instruments”. Section 60 powers only apply to a designated locality in a police force area for a set period.
An officer of the rank of inspector or above may initially authorise a section 60 stop and search if they reasonably believe one (or more) of the following:
- that incidents involving serious violence may take place in the police area; or
- that people are carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons without good reason in the police area; or
- that an incident involving serious violence has taken place in the police area and a dangerous instrument or offensive weapon used in the incident is being carried by a person in that area, so authorisation would help to find that item.