Wiltshire is one of the safest counties in the Country in which to live, work and visit.  Wiltshire Police is committed to ensuring everyone remains safe from crime, satisfied with the service provided and confident that Wiltshire Police and our partners can effectively tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour to keep the public safe from harm.

The Police use of stop and search is a powerful tool in the fight against crime and one that has excellent results in catching and deterring criminals.  Police officers may feel it is necessary to carry out a search of a person's clothes or property if they have reasonable cause to suspect that person has in their possession articles that could be:

• Stolen
• Unlawfully obtained/possessed (such as controlled drugs), or
• Cause harm to other people (such as offensive weapons).

To make sure we are open and accountable, officers must always identify themselves and provide an explanation of why a stop or search is to be carried out.  They will also provide the person stopped a record of the stop so people can find out more information or make a complaint.

Wiltshire Police works hard to ensure everyone is treated fairly, professionally and with respect and dignity.  We understand that some people may feel worried or frightened about being stopped and searched, whilst others may feel insulted or discriminated against.  We believe that the more people know about their rights and understand what the police are trying to achieve through effective use of stop and search powers, the more likely it is we can build trust and confidence across all communities.

Our stop and search pages aim to help you understand stop and search procedures, the type of behaviour you should expect from the police and, in return, what the police require from you

Please browse the site, see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information and participate in our stop search survey.