Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

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Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
the Parliament of the United Kingdom

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See this legislation with any revisons at legislation.gov.uk .

Part IX and Schedule 4 (relating to the Police Complaints Authority) were repealed by the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) with effect from 1 April 1999 (S.I. 1999/533).
Major amendments were made to Part III of the Act by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15) that abolished the concept of "arrestable offence".

For corresponding provisions effective in Scotland and Northern Ireland, see:

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1)
Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))

4147546Police and Criminal Evidence Act 19841984the Parliament of the United Kingdom

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Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

CHAPTER 60

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I Powers to Stop and Search
Section
1.	Power of constable to stop and search persons, vehicles etc.
2.	Provisions relating to search under section 1 and other powers.
3.	Duty to make records concerning searches.
4.	Road checks.
5.	Reports of recorded searches and of road checks.
6.	Statutory undertakers etc.
7.	Part I—supplementary.
Part II Powers of Entry, Search and Seizure
Search warrants
8.	Power of justice of the peace to authorise entry and search of premises.
9.	Special provisions as to access.
10.	Meaning of “items subject to legal privilege”.
11.	Meaning of “excluded material”.
12.	Meaning of “personal records”.
13.	Meaning of “journalistic material”.
14.	Meaning of “special procedure material”.
15.	Search warrants—safeguards.
16.	Execution of warrants.
Entry and search without search warrant
17.	Entry for purpose of arrest etc.
18.	Entry and search after arrest.
Seizure etc.
19.	General power of seizure etc.
20.	Extension of powers of seizure to computerised information.
21.	Access and copying.
22.	Retention.
Supplementary
23.	Meaning of “premises” etc.
Part III Arrest
24.	Arrest without warrant for arrestable offences.
25.	General arrest conditions.
26.	Repeal of statutory powers of arrest without warrant or order.
27.	Fingerprinting certain offenders.
28.	Information to be given on arrest.
29.	Voluntary attendance at police station etc.
30.	Arrest elsewhere than at police station.
31.	Arrest for further offence.
32.	Search upon arrest.
33.	Execution of warrant not in possession of constable.
Part IV Detention
Detention—conditions and duration
34.	Limitations on police detention.
35.	Designated police stations.
36.	Custody officers at police stations.
37.	Duties of custody officer before charge.
38.	Duties of custody officer after charge.
39.	Responsibilities in relation to persons detained.
40.	Review of police detention.
41.	Limits on period of detention without charge.
42.	Authorisation of continued detention.
43.	Warrants of further detention.
44.	Extension of warrants of further detention.
45.	Detention before charge-supplementary.
Detention—miscellaneous
46.	Detention after charge.
47.	Bail after arrest.
48.	Remands to police detention.
49.	Police detention to count towards custodial sentence.
50.	Records of detention.
51.	Savings.
52.	Children.
Part V Questioning and Treatment of Persons by Police
53.	Abolition of certain powers of constables to search persons.
54.	Searches of detained persons.
55.	Intimate searches.
56.	Right to have someone informed when arrested.
57.	Additional rights of children and young persons.
58.	Access to legal advice.
59.	Legal aid for persons at police stations.
60.	Tape-recording of interviews.
61.	Fingerprinting.
62.	Intimate samples.
63.	Other samples.
64.	Destruction of fingerprints and samples.
65.	Part V—supplementary.
Part VI Codes of Practice—General
66.	Codes of practice.
67.	Codes of practice—supplementary.
Part VII Documentary Evidence in Criminal Proceedings
68.	Evidence from documentary records.
69.	Evidence from computer records.
70.	Provisions supplementary to sections 68 and 69.
71.	Microfilm copies.
72.	Part VII—supplementary.
Part VIII Evidence in Criminal Proceedings—General
Convictions and acquittals
73.	Proof of convictions and acquittals.
74.	Conviction as evidence of commission of offence.
75.	Provisions supplementary to section 74.
Confessions
76.	Confessions.
77.	Confessions by mentally handicapped persons.
78.	Exclusion of unfair evidence.
Miscellaneous
79.	Time for taking accused’s evidence.
80.	Competence and compellability of accused’s spouse.
81.	Advance notice of expert evidence in Crown Court.
Part VIII—supplementary
82.	Part VIII—interpretation.
Part IX Police Complaints and Discipline
The Police Complaints Authority
83.	Establishment of the Police Complaints Authority.
Handling of complaints etc.
84.	Preliminary.
85.	Investigation of complaints: standard procedure.
86.	Investigation of complaints against senior officers.
87.	References of complaints to Authority.
88.	References of other matters to Authority.
89.	Supervision of investigations by Authority.
90.	Steps to be taken after investigation—general.
91.	Steps to be taken where accused has admitted charges.
92.	Powers of Authority to direct reference of reports etc. to Director of Public Prosecutions.
93.	Powers of Authority as to disciplinary charges.
94.	Disciplinary tribunals.
95.	Information as to the manner of dealing with complaints etc.
96.	Constabularies maintained by authorities other than police authorities.
97.	Reports.
98.	Restriction on disclosure of information.
99.	Regulations.
100.	Regulations—supplementary.
Amendments of discipline provisions
101.	Discipline regulations.
102.	Representation at disciplinary proceedings.
103.	Disciplinary appeals.
General
104.	Restrictions on subsequent proceedings.
105.	Guidelines concerning discipline, complaints etc.
Part X Police—General
106.	Arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing.
107.	Police officers performing duties of higher rank.
108.	Deputy chief constables.
109.	Amendments relating to Police Federations.
110.	Functions of special constables in Scotland.
111.	Regulations for Police Forces and Police Cadets—Scotland.
112.	Metropolitan police officers.
Part XI Miscellaneous and Supplementary
113.	Application of Act to Armed Forces.
114.	Application of Act to Customs and Excise.
115.	Expenses.
116.	Meaning of “serious arrestable offence”.
117.	Power of constable to use reasonable force.
118.	General interpretation.
119.	Amendments and repeals.
120.	Extent.
121.	Commencement.
122.	Short title.
	Schedules:
	Schedule 1—Special procedure.
	Schedule 2—Preserved powers of arrest.
	Schedule 3—Provisions supplementary to sections 68 and 69.
	Part I—Provisions supplementary to section 68.
	Part II—Provisions supplementary to section 69.
	Part III—Provisions supplementary to sections 68 and 69.
	Schedule 4—The Police Complaints Authority.
	Part I—General.
	Part II—Transitional.
	Schedule 5—Serious arrestable offences.
	Part I—Offences mentioned in section 116(2)(a).
	Part II—Offences mentioned in section 116(2)(b).
	Schedule 6—Minor and consequential amendments.
	Part I—England and Wales.
	Part II—Other amendments.
	Schedule 7—Repeals.
	Part I—Enactments repealed in consequence of Parts I to V.
	Part II—Enactments repealed in relation to criminal proceedings in consequence of Part VII.
	Part III—Enactments repealed generally in consequence of Part VII.
	Part IV—Enactments repealed in relation to criminal proceedings in consequence of Part VIII.
	Part V—Enactments repealed generally in consequence of Part VIII.
	Part VI—Miscellaneous repeals.

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