If you're car is pulled over in the UK can the police search it?

Jamie79	Ian has answered your question in the most informative detail.

33 year old	sorry, they can, anytime they want to.anywhere in the UK.

gortamor	I can speak from personal experience as it's happened to me many times in the past. The peelers had NO reason to believe anything criminal had been going on, was going on or would be going on. Was harassment, pure and simple. Is this so Jamie79? Well, perhaps you all did suspend your policies when it came to the six.

badshotcop	If they have reasonable belief that you're carrying something then yes, a warrant is not required. They must provide you with a search record however. Police only need a warrant if they're searching a house, and even then a warrant is not always required.

Ian	In a word, yes. However, this has to be justified under the stop and search powers governed by the Police and criminal evidence act. Contrary to what the critics of the Police say, we can't do what we want, certainly not in the UK anyway, as we have to justify our actions. I for one wouldn't want to risk my job for someone who has taken aversion to me doing my job which is why I can always justify my actions. I had to do just that today to my boss and he was happy with my reasons for my actions which were well within the law.

lisa4rugby	Yes...they wouldn't ask to search if they didn't have a reason too...they also need to give you a ticket that says your vehicle has been searched and why!

PK	I got stopped one day for using a mobile phone, well I wasnt so the cop said he would ''turn my car over''. I told him to inform his superior that he wanted to damage my car by turning it over, he got funny as hell so I insisted that a more superior cop wa there when He ''turned my car over'', the higher ranking guy came, swore at the PC, appologised to me and they went. I took it to the cheif constable who in turn made his appologise, not enough for me I went on again and got some compensation for ''threatening to damge property'' from the cop.

LYN W	Hi, In the UK, yes they can provided they have reasonable suspicion that a criminal offence has been, is being or is going to be committed or used in the comissioning of a crime

vdv_desantnik	only if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have something illegal in their

st.abbs	If they think that you are ,have or intend to commit a criminal act then I am sure they are within their rights.

mad keith	yes thay can but thay need to explian why all so get them to write in the book why and you sign it given the the ok so if you want to make a complaint the officer cant say he did not explain etc

iusedtolooklikemyavatar	The UK may be a democracy, but the authorities can and do anything they like to us "subjects", and if they come across an occasion when they can't, the government will just change the laws to suit. The police can do what they like, as long as they have reasonable suspicion, whatever the hell that means.

Corky	Yes - they can just 'invent' a reason.

scorpiotoo2000	YES! They can if they have reason to suspect a crime has been committed or you have illegal things in there. Say they smell weed when you are pulled you will be searched along with your car. The moral of the story - be a good driver and behave!

The_Informer	yes, they can, they can do almost anything they want under the suspicion of drugs or alcohol. Also, if you are being a total moran then they will do anything they can to do what they can to make your day or night the most miserable of your life.

Blitzhund	All the above answers are either incomplete or do not pertain to the UK. The Terrorism Act of 2004 last left the Search and Seizure rules as this: Unless an officer believes that a pedestrian or automobile is involved in an act of terrorism normal rules for search and seizure apply. Those rules are: An officer much first ask the pedestrian/driver if there are any illegal items with them. Then, the officer must seek permission to search any private property from the person whom owns the property (unless an automobile is stolen in which case an officer is allowed to search an autmobile in an attempt to determine it's proper owner). If this permission to search is not granted than the police officer must appeal to his MPS and obtain a warrant to search from an acceeding authority. <EDIT> Look at the police bashing! I love how people have a go at the police. You can absolutely refuse to have your car searched and force an officer to get a warrant. To bad most of you are too stupid to realize your rights and assert them. Until then, I'll happily gather your thumbs down and you'll happily remain ignorant.

Terry	Yes, you don't have the protection from unreasonable search or seizure that is guaranteed in the US constitution.

Caicos Turkey	Why was your car pulled over? Were you driving erratically? If so, the police could always justify such a search by saying that they were concerned that you might be under the influence of something or other or that your demeanour was so suspicious that they thought you might be going equipped for theft...there are endless possibilities. So the answer is no, they have no right to conduct such a search unless there is good reason for doing so, but their imagination knows no bounds when it comes to finding a good reason.

Grand pa	Nothing To hide? nothing to worry about?

realtexans	Police can dance on top of your boot if they want to. Police are usually the guys from high school who got there a** kicked every other day and get older to go on and get a badge and a gun.. Then they have complete control over everything..

clubkid_03	Yes under the guise of 'just routine check ...'

dergeyers07	They have to have reasonable suspicion in order to stop and search.

deadman	yes they can, they do need probable cause but they can simply say they thought they smelt drugs or your driving was a little eratic. they can make up a reason on the spot and there is nothing you can do, except resist and risk getting arrested. they are like hitlers henchmen in different uniforms.

santa sid	With justification,they can search your car,if they think you could be in the process of committing an offence

teddybears	not without probable cause....