Police And Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes Of Practice

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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 Get emails about this page

Contents

1. Overview
2. PACE codes of practice
3. Current versions of the codes
4. Previous versions
5. Consultations

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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

• 17 January 2023
• 19 March 2015
• 27 October 2013
• 7 March 2011
• 1 January 2009

Code B

• 27 October 2013
• 7 March 2011
• 1 February 2008

Code C

• 21 August 2019
• 31 July 2018
• 23 February 2017
• 2 June 2014
• 27 October 20 13
• 10 July 2012
• 1 February 2008

Code D

• 23 February 2017
• 7 March 2011
• 1 February 2008

Code E

• 2 February 2016
• 23 October 2013
• 30 April 2010

Code F

• 26 October 2013
• 30 April 2010

Code G

• 1 January 2006

Code H

• 10 February 2023
• 21 August 2019
• 31 July 2018
• 23 February 2017
• 2 June 2014
• 27 October 2013
• 10 July 2012
• 25 July 2006

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. 20 December 2023

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

2. 22 February 2023

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

3. 17 January 2023

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

4. 12 October 2022

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

5. 17 May 2022

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

6. 18 June 2020

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

7. 20 August 2019

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

8. 24 April 2019

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

9. 1 December 2018

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

10. 21 August 2018

    Updated consultations section.

11. 31 July 2018

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

12. 11 July 2018

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

13. 25 October 2017

    Added information on new consultation.

14. 23 February 2017

    Revised codes C,D and H published.

15. 17 February 2017

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

16. 23 March 2016

    Consultation on codes C, D and H launched.

17. 2 February 2016

    Link to Code E 2016 added.

18. 26 March 2013

    First published.

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