4. Police search
If a police search exposes intimate parts of my body, the police must respect my rights and dignity.
If the police need to do a search that exposes intimate parts of your body, an appropriate adult must be with you during the search.
There are some situations where an appropriate adult does not need to be with you. This includes in urgent cases where there’s a risk of serious harm, or if you do not want an appropriate adult to be there (the appropriate adult must sign a record agreeing to this).
If the search is not urgent, then a minimum of 2 people must be with you. This could be 2 police officers (if you do not want your appropriate adult to be there). There should not be any more than 3 people with you, unless in exceptional circumstances.
Everyone present must be the same sex as you, except if you’ve requested a specific appropriate adult.
The search must take place in a private space, usually inside a police station and never in a police vehicle.
You must be searched as quickly as possible, allowed to dress as soon as the search is complete, and will not normally have to take all your clothes off at once.
If the police record the search, they should cover the camera or turn it away when your intimate body parts are exposed.
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