Essential Minimum Law Knowledge

• Section 1 Of Pace - Searching someone BEFORE arrest with reasonable suspicion
• Section 32 Of Pace - Searching someone AFTER Arrest
• Section 47 Of Firearms Act - Searching someone for firearms
• Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) - Searching someone for drugs
• Section 163, Road Traffic Act - Power for police to stop any vehicle on the road

You may gain access to a printable cheat sheet on our notice board: https://discord.com/channels/1023259658661675129/1069444324703617034/1079414894887186512

GOWISELY

There are certain things an officer of the law must say or do before searching an individual and this is where the acronym GOWISELY comes into play.

• G: Grounds for the search
• O: Object the officer is searching for
• W: Warrant, particularly if the officer is in plain clothes
• I: Identification, proof that the officer is indeed a police officer!
• S: Station to which the officer is attached to
• E: Entitlement, any citizen being searched by a police officer is entitled to copies of all paperwork
• L: Legislation, the legal power which gives the officer the right to stop and search
• Y: YOU are being detained for the search or for the purpose of…

Police Caution

If you are Arresting someone read them the Police Caution. You may DELAY the caution if the area is unsafe and you need to get the suspect back to the station ASAP but the caution must be read to them when safe to do so.

“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court, anything you do say can be given as evidence" 

Ask them if they understand the Police Caution, repeat if needed.