Get a record of my stop and search

At the time of the stop and search

You should be offered one of the following:

• a written record of the stop and search
• a receipt at the time of the event
• a copy of the record emailed to you
• you may be told where to collect the record later

If you wish to complain, or tell us about your experience, this record/receipt will help identify the circumstances.

What will be in the record?

The search record must contain the following information:

• the officer's details
• date, time and place of the stop and search
• reason for the stop and search
• outcome of the stop and search
• your self-defined ethnicity
• vehicle registration number (if relevant)
• what the officer was looking for and anything they found
• your name or a description if you refuse to give your name

How to get the record

If you did not get a receipt at the time of the search, you can go into a police station within 14 days of the search and a receipt will be given to you.

If you've been stopped and searched and you have given your email address or mobile number to the officer you should have been sent a receipt. This may include information about how to get your record.

If you were given a receipt, you can take the receipt to your local police station and ask for a record of the search.

There may be a time limit, to collect the record, of up to three months after you are stopped or 12 months if you were arrested and taken into custody.

You must take a form of ID with you, for example:

• driving licence
• passport
• student ID card

Please note: You may not be given a receipt, and there may be no record made of a stop and account, or a vehicle stop. Find out more information about the different types of stops that the police can do.