The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes A, B, C, D and H and New Code I) Order 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into operation various revised codes of practice, Codes A, B, C, D and H, under section 66(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (“PACE 1984”). The revised codes will supersede the existing codes issued under that subsection.

The Order also brings into operation a new code of practice, Code I, which relates to the detention, treatment and questioning by police of persons in detention under section 27 of, and Schedule 6 to, the National Security Act 2023 (c. 32) (“NS Act 2023”).

Code A has been revised further to the introduction of new stop and search powers in the Public Order Act 2023 (c. 15) (“PO Act 2023”); changes to police powers made by the NS Act 2023; changes to communication and data collection requirements; and amendments to the Serious Violence Reduction Order pilot scheme.

Codes B, C, D and H have been revised to reflect other changes to police powers made by the NS Act 2023.

The revised codes, along with new Code I, are laid before Parliament with this Order and will also be available on the PACE code of practice pages on the gov.uk website. Impact assessments have been prepared in relation to the PO Act 2023 and the NS Act 2023 respectively.

Copies of the impact assessments are available on www.legislation.gov.uk. Hard copies of the various codes and the impact assessments can be obtained by writing to the relevant team at the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF: for Codes A to D or the PO Act 2023 impact assessment – the Power Powers Unit, Public Safety Group; for Code H – the Counter-Terrorism Pursue Unit, Homeland Security Group; for Code I or the NS Act 2023 impact assessment – the State Threats Unit, Homeland Security Group.