Section 18 PACE

PACE powers

Section 18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 allows a constable to enter and search premises occupied or controlled by a person who is under arrest for an indictable offence, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that there is evidence on the premises relating to that offence or a connected or similar indictable offence. The search normally requires written authorisation from an inspector.

In practice

A section 18 search follows an arrest and targets premises controlled by the detainee. The authorising officer's written authority should be obtained before the search unless it is not practicable, in which case the constable must inform an inspector as soon as practicable. The scope of the search is limited to evidence of the offence for which the person was arrested.

Related terms

Section 17 PACE
PACE
Arrest
Indictable offence

Last updated 12 October 2026