Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to make further provision in relation to the powers and duties of the police, persons in police detention, criminal evidence, police discipline and complaints against the police; to provide for arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing and for a rank of deputy chief constable; to amend the law relating to the Police Federations and Police Forces and Police Cadets in Scotland; and for connected purposes.
Citation1984 c. 60
Dates
Commencementin force
Other legislation
Relates toSerious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Police (Detention and Bail) Act 2011
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (PACE) is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, and provided codes of practice for the exercise of those powers.[1] Part VI[2] of PACE required the Home Secretary to issue Codes of Practice governing police powers. The aim of PACE is to establish a balance between the powers of the police in England and Wales and the rights and freedoms of the public.[1] Equivalent provision is made for Northern Ireland by the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (SI 1989/1341). The equivalent in Scots Law is the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

PACE also sets out responsibilities and powers that can be utilized by non-sworn members of the Police i.e. PCSOs, by members of the public or other government agencies e.g. FSA officers, the armed forces, HMRC officers, et al.[3][4]

PACE has been modified by the Policing and Crime Act 2017,[5][6][7] "which mean[s] that there is now a presumption that suspects who are released without charge from police detention will not be released on bail," a formality which was written in PACE 1984 Section 30A.[8]

PACE established the role of the appropriate adult (AA) in England and Wales. It describes the AA role as "to safeguard the rights, entitlements and welfare of juveniles and vulnerable persons to whom the provisions of this and any other Code of Practice apply”.[9]

  1. ^ a b "Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) codes of practice". Home Office. GOV.UK. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. ^ Part VI of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  3. ^ https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/24A [bare URL]
  4. ^ https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/part/XI [bare URL]
  5. ^ Fouzder, Monidipa (15 May 2019). "Releasing suspects under investigation is having 'terrible consequences'". The Law Society Gazette.
  6. ^ "Released under investigation – What can and should be done?". Wells Burcombe LLP. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  7. ^ Sharp, Sam (10 March 2020). "The Criminal Purgatory – Release Under Investigation – is the end in sight?". QS Jordans. Crime Jottings.
  8. ^ "Pre-Charge Bail and Release Under Investigation Procedure" (PDF). Greater Manchester Police. June 2020.
  9. ^ "About Appropriate Adults - National Appropriate Adult Network". www.appropriateadult.org.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2024.