Police powers: stop and search
This Commons Library briefing paper discusses police stop and search powers. It outlines a recent history of their reform and available evidence on their effectiveness at reducing and detecting crime.

This note looks at whether it is possible to get compensation for damage to a front door when the police have forced entry.
Damage to property by police forcing entry (523 KB , PDF)
Constituents sometimes ask whether they can get compensation for damage (for example to a front door) following forced entry by the police. Police forces do sometimes make ex gratia payments or pay compensation following such damage, for example where the raid was at the wrong premises. However, statutory guidance states that compensation for such damage is “unlikely to be appropriate if the search was lawful, and the force used can be shown to be reasonable, proportionate and necessary to effect entry.” Where a police force refuses to make such a payment, then a constituent wishing to pursue the matter further would need to obtain specialist legal advice.
The information in this note applies in England and Wales.
Damage to property by police forcing entry (523 KB , PDF)
This Commons Library briefing paper discusses police stop and search powers. It outlines a recent history of their reform and available evidence on their effectiveness at reducing and detecting crime.
This Commons Library briefing paper discusses police powers to conduct "strip searches". It outlines the procedures for conducting strip searches; the available evidence on the use of strip searches; and recent debate about the impact they can have.
There will be a debate on Anti-social behaviour awareness week in Westminster Hall on 20 July 2022 at 14:30. This debate will be led by Jacob Young MP.