Policing.uk
Reasonable grounds
- PACE powers
A threshold of suspicion that must be met before an officer exercises certain powers, including stop and search under section 1 PACE and arrest under section 24 PACE. Reasonable grounds require an objective basis formed from specific facts, information, or intelligence. They cannot be based on personal factors such as race, age, appearance, or previous convictions alone.
In practice
The test is objective: would a reasonable person, knowing what the officer knew at the time, also have suspected the individual? Officers should be able to articulate the specific grounds. Relying on a hunch or generalised profile will not satisfy the standard.
Related terms
Last updated 24 September 2026