Policing.uk
Stop and account
- PACE powers
A voluntary interaction in which an officer asks a person to account for their actions, behaviour, or presence. Unlike stop and search, there is no power to detain the person for this purpose and no statutory requirement to complete a search record, though forces may have local recording policies. The person is free to leave at any time.
In practice
Officers must not present a stop and account as if the person has no choice but to stay. If an officer forms reasonable grounds during the encounter, the interaction may escalate to a stop and search or arrest. The absence of a mandatory record can make monitoring for disproportionate use more difficult.
Related terms
Last updated 24 September 2026