Road Checks for Serious Offences

PACE 1984, s.4

Warrant: No
Force: Yes
Notice: No

Authorises a police officer of the rank of superintendent or above to establish road checks (road blocks) to stop vehicles in a defined area. Road checks may be used to ascertain whether a vehicle is carrying a person who has committed, or intends to commit, a indictable offence, or a person who is unlawfully at large.

Conditions

Authorisation must be given by an officer of superintendent rank or above
Must be for the purpose of finding a person suspected of a indictable offence or who is unlawfully at large
The authorising officer must have reasonable grounds for believing the person is, or is about to be, in the area
A record must be kept of the authorisation and the reason for it

Limitations

Only available for indictable offences or persons unlawfully at large: not for minor offences
Must be authorised by a superintendent or above: an inspector may authorise urgently but must refer up within 72 hours
A written record of the authorisation and its results must be made and retained

Last updated 24 September 2026