• Your Rights
  • Your Rights

    Everyone has rights, whether he or she is a member of the general public, a victim of crime or being held in custody. Bedfordshire Police Authority is committed to respecting the rights of others, in whatever circumstances they find themselves.

    Complaints

    All complaints are taken very seriously. While complaints about police performance or behaviour are never pleasant for any of the parties involved, it is important that we deal with each complaint in a systematic and fair manner.
    Members Code of Conduct

    Complaints against the Police
    There are clear procedures for handling complaints against Police Officers, Special Constables and Police Staff. Visit the Bedfordshire Police website ( www. bedfordshire.police.uk) for further information.

    Complaints against a Member of the Police Authority
    From 8 May 2008 the duty to consider complaints that a Member of the Bedfordshire Police Authority may have breached the Code of Conduct has become the responsibility of the Authority's Standards Committee.
    If you wish to complain about the conduct of a member of Bedfordshire Police Authority , you must submit your complaint to:

    The Monitoring Officer
    Bedfordshire Police Authority
    Bridgebury House
    Woburn Road
    Kempston
    MK43 9AX

    You must make your complaint using the Complaint Form - Download Complaint Form (116k Word document) - so that you can be sure that you have provided all the information necessary to progress the complaint.

    Alternatively, you can contact the Monitoring Officer on 01234 842066 or by email: janet.wardell@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

    The Standards Committee can only deal with complaints about the behaviour of a Member of the Bedfordshire Police Authority . It will not deal with complaints about things that are not covered by the members' Code of Conduct. If you make a complaint, it must be about why you think a Member has not followed the Code of Conduct.

    Stop And Search

    What You Should Know

    What is Stop and Search?
    One of the powers that the police sometimes use to prevent crime in the local community is stop and search. This means that police officers and community support officers can stop you and ask questions about what you're doing in that area. You may be stopped on the street or in your car.

    Stop and search also allows the police to search you if they suspect you might be carrying an illegal substance or something that could be used as a weapon.

    Why Stop Me?
    Being stopped by the police is not the same as being arrested and it doesn't necessarily mean that they think you've done something wrong. They could be asking you for help or checking if you've seen anything suspicious happening in the last few minutes.

    The police are not allowed to stop you because of the way you look, or your race, religion, age or the clothes that you're wearing, unless you fit the description of someone who's suspected of committing a crime.

    The Police Must Follow the Rules
    If you are stopped and searched by the police you have certain rights.

    The officer must:
    - Tell you why you have been stopped
    - Tell you why you are going to be searched (if you are) and what the officer is looking for
    - Tell you their name and number and which police station they are from
    - Give you a copy of the details recorded

    If you are going to be searched, it must happen in a public place. You may be asked to empty your pockets, open your bag or take off your coat so they can make sure you're not hiding any weapons or stolen goods.

    The police can only search you further if they have strong evidence that you may be connected with terrorism, or if they think you're using your clothes to hide your identity. If this is the case, you have to be searched in a private place, and the officer who performs the search must be the same sex as you.

    What Should I Do?
    You don't have to give your name, address or date of birth to the police if you're stopped and searched unless you're being reported for an offence, but it is advised that when asked, you describe your ethnic origin.
    It's important that you give this information to the officer, as this is how the Police Authority monitors disproportionate stopping of ethnic minorities and encourages police accountability.
    The officer will fill out a form outlining the reason for stopping you, the outcome of the stop and search and their name, and give you a copy. This information won't be held on file against you unless you're charged with an offence.
    Find out more about Stop and Search by downloading this leaflet (55k PDF file)

    Stop and Account
    If you are stopped (but not searched) by the police you do not have to give any personal information e.g. name and address, and the officer does not have to fill out a long form, which saves everybody time.
    To ensure accountability of the police, the officer will still need to let the person stopped know who they are (by giving them a receipt or business card with their details). The ethnic background of the person stopped will still be recorded so that we can ensure that the police are using their powers fairly.
    Find out more by downloading this poster (31k PDF file)