Explanatory note

The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) order 1989 requires the Department of Justice to issue codes of practice in relation to the exercise of police powers. Code of Practice A governs the exercise by police officers of the statutory powers to search a person or vehicle without first making an arrest.

This Order requires Code A to be applied with the modifications set out in the Schedule to this Order. These modifications to Section 4 of Code A (recording requirements) and the Notes for Guidance provide police officers in Northern Ireland exercising their powers of stop and search with the option of recording stop and search details electronically and issuing a receipt in place of a full record of the search at the point of contact. The receipt will contain details on how a full record can be made available.