In the UK, does a person have the right to refuse a police "Stop and Search"

Question

UK Police's stop and search powers have been talked about a lot in the news in recent months.

I would like to know if an individual has the right to refuse a stop and search by police in the UK.

Answer 1

england-and-wales

No

The primary stop and search powers are at:

• s.1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act

• s.23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

• s.47 of the Firearms Act 1968

which all empower an officer to detain a person for the purposes of that search.

Resisting a search may well be an offence under s.89(2) of the Police Act 1996:

Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty [...] shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both.