Guidance

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) codes of practice

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice regulate police powers and protect public rights.

From:
Home Office
Published
26 March 2013
Last updated
20 December 2023 — See all updates

Overview

This page covers the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the accompanying PACE codes of practice, which establish the powers of the police to combat crimes while protecting the rights of the public.

PACE codes of practice

PACE sets out to strike the right balance between the powers of the police and the rights and freedoms of the public. Maintaining that balance is a central element of PACE.

The PACE codes of practice cover:

  • stop and search
  • arrest
  • detention
  • investigation
  • identification
  • interviewing detainees

Current versions of the codes

Code Subjects covered
Code A 2023 Exercise by police officers of statutory powers to search a person or a vehicle without first making an arrest and the need for a police officer to make a record of a stop or encounter
Code B 2023 Police powers to search premises and to seize and retain property found on premises and persons
Code C 2023 Requirements for the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects not related to terrorism in police custody by police officers. Includes the requirement to explain a person’s rights while detained and the requirement to explain the rights of a person who has not been arrested that apply to a voluntary interview.
Code D 2023 Main methods used by the police to identify people in connection with the investigation of offences and the keeping of accurate and reliable criminal records
Code E 2018 Audio recording of interviews with suspects in the police station
Code F 2018 Visual recording with sound of interviews with suspects - there is no statutory requirement on police officers to visually record interviews, but the contents of this code should be considered if an interviewing officer decides to make a visual recording with sound of an interview with a suspect
Code G 2012 Powers of arrest under section 24 the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as amended by section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
Code H 2023 Requirements for the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects related to terrorism in police custody by police officers. Includes the requirement to explain a person’s rights while detained in connection with terrorism
Code I 2023 Detention, treatment and questioning by police of persons in detention under section 27 of, and Schedule 6 to, the National Security Act 2023

The latest version of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice on detention and custody is published on the College of Policing website under Authorised Professional Practice in the detention and custody section

Previous versions

Previous versions of the codes are shown below, by the date they came into force.

Code A

Code B

Code C

Code D

Code E

Code F

Code G

Code H

Consultations

Read previous consultations which contributed to the development of revised codes.

Updates to this page

Published 26 March 2013
Last updated 20 December 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added new PACE Code I and updated versions of PACE Codes A, B, C, D and H.

  2. Updated as a new version of PACE Code H has recently come into force.

  3. Revised PACE Code A has effect from 17 January 2023 following a statutory consultation.

  4. Removal of link to closed consultation on Revising PACE Code A (2022).

  5. We are currently consulting on a revised draft of PACE Code A.

  6. We have launched a statutory consultation on the revision of PACE Codes C (Detention) and E (Audio recording of suspect interviews).

  7. Updated current version of codes with codes C and H for 2019. Codes C and H for 2018 moved to previous versions.

  8. Link to the revision of PACE Codes C (Detention) and H (Detention – terrorism) updated.

  9. Guidance on your rights when detained and rights when having a voluntary interview have been updated.

  10. Updated consultations section.

  11. Codes C, H, E and F have been revised.

  12. New PACE Codes C, H, E and F will come into force on 31 July.

  13. Added information on new consultation.

  14. Revised codes C,D and H published.

  15. Revised codes C,D and H will come into force on Thursday 23 February.

  16. Consultation on codes C, D and H launched.

  17. Link to Code E 2016 added.

  18. First published.

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