A police officer can approach you at any time and ask who you are, what you are doing or where you are going. This is often called "stop and account". It is a conversation, not a detention, and the law treats it very differently from a stop and search.
What the officer can ask
They might ask:
- Your name and where you live.
- What you are doing in the area.
- Where you have come from or are going.
- Whether you can explain something they have seen.
Do you have to answer?
In most situations, no. You do not have to stop, and you do not have to answer questions. You are free to walk away unless the officer tells you that you are being detained or arrested. Refusing to answer, on its own, cannot be used as the reasonable grounds needed to search or arrest you.
There are specific situations where you do have to give details:
- If an officer in uniform reasonably believes you have been behaving in an anti-social way, they can require your name and address under section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002. Refusing or giving false details is an offence (see our Section 50 guide).
- If you are driving, you must give your name, address and date of birth when asked, and produce your licence if required.
- If you are being reported for an offence, refusing to identify yourself can make an arrest "necessary", which otherwise might not be the case.
Practical points
Staying calm and polite usually ends the encounter quickest. You can ask the officer why they are speaking to you, and for their name and station. If they want to search you, the rules change: they must have grounds, tell you the power they are using, and give you a record. Forces no longer have to record stop and account encounters, so if something about the encounter concerns you, make your own note of the time, place and officer details as soon as you can.
This is general information for England and Wales, not legal advice. If you have been arrested or charged, speak to a solicitor: advice at the police station is free for everyone.