Home Office
Detail of outcome
The Home Office consultation on proposed revisions to Code of Practice A (Stop and Search) closed on 27 June 2022.
We proposed amendments to Code A to include powers in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs). SVROs are a new civil order which give the police powers to stop and search individuals convicted of an offence where a knife or offensive weapon was used or was present.
The revised Code A includes a temporary new Annex (Annex G) for the purposes of the pilot for SVROs, which outlines the powers under section 324E of the Sentencing Code (in relation to individuals subject to an SVRO) and the considerations police officers should make when deciding to conduct a search on individuals.
This response summarises the feedback received.
The revised Code of Practice will be laid before Parliament together with a draft statutory instrument which, subject to approval from both Houses of Parliament, would bring the Code into operation. The 2015 version of Code A will remain unchanged and in force until the revised code is approved by both Houses of Parliament.
Original consultation
Consultation description
This draft version of code A is being circulated for consultation in accordance with section 67(4) of PACE. Code A concerns the exercise by police officers of statutory powers to search a person or a vehicle without first making an arrest.
The draft code has a covering note and detailed table outlining the changes and their purpose.
The new revisions are necessary to bring the code in line with current legislation in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 which introduced Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVRO) into Part 11 of the Sentencing Code.
SVROs are a new civil order which give the police powers to stop and search individuals convicted of an offence where a knife or offensive weapon was present. The order will be piloted in West Midlands, Merseyside, Thames Valley and Sussex Police forces before a decision is made on roll out across England and Wales. Full details on SVROs can be found here.