Acts
The foundation Acts that govern police powers. Each one breaks down into its working sections with the elements and grounds you need on the street.
PACE 1984
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
The cornerstone of police powers in England and Wales. Governs stop and search, arrest, entry, search of premises, detention and questioning, and the treatment of suspects.
MDA 1971
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Controls the production, supply and possession of controlled drugs, and creates the search powers most commonly used by officers responding to drug offences.
Theft Act 1968
Theft Act 1968
Defines the core acquisitive offences — theft, robbery, burglary, handling stolen goods — used daily by response and CID teams.
RTSA 2003
Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003
Established the British Transport Police as a statutory force and sets out its jurisdiction, powers and governance. Essential reference for BTP officers.
POA 1986
Public Order Act 1986
Frames the spectrum of public order offences from riot through to harassment, alarm or distress — the daily currency of response policing on a Friday night.
RTA 1988
Road Traffic Act 1988
The principal Act for road policing in Great Britain — driver requirements, document production, drink and drug driving, dangerous and careless driving, and the duties of drivers after an incident.
CJA 1988
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Wide-ranging Act covering offences and procedure. For frontline policing, s.139 (bladed/pointed articles in a public place) and s.139A (on school premises) are the core knife-crime offences.
Firearms Act 1968
Firearms Act 1968
Principal Act regulating the possession, purchase, acquisition, manufacture, sale and transfer of firearms and ammunition in Great Britain. Frontline essentials are s.1, s.5, s.18 and s.19.
SOA 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
The principal modern Act for sexual offending in England and Wales. Codifies rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and offences against children, and reframes consent in s.74–s.76.
Railway Byelaws 2005
Railway Byelaws 2005
National Rail Byelaws made under section 219 of the Transport Act 2000 by the Strategic Rail Authority. Apply to the operational railway across England, Wales and Scotland — stations, trains, depots and connected land. Enforced by BTP and authorised railway staff.
TfL Byelaws 2024
Transport for London Byelaws 2024
Made by Transport for London under the Greater London Authority Act 1999. Apply across the TfL network — London Underground, Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line, trams and TfL-managed stations. Enforced by BTP, MPS and TfL-authorised persons.
Heritage Byelaws
Heritage & Operator-Specific Railway Byelaws
Many heritage railways and light rail operators (e.g. Severn Valley Railway, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Manchester Metrolink, Tyne & Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway) operate under their own byelaws made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 or local Acts. The provisions broadly mirror the National Rail Byelaws 2005 but enforcement and penalties vary by operator.
MCA 1988
Malicious Communications Act 1988
Criminalises sending letters, electronic communications or articles that are indecent, grossly offensive, threatening, or contain false information, with intent to cause distress or anxiety.
CA 2003
Communications Act 2003
Section 127 criminalises improper use of a public electronic communications network — grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages, and persistent nuisance calls or messages.
OSA 2023
Online Safety Act 2023
Created new offences targeting harmful online communications: false communications, threatening communications, cyberflashing, and epilepsy-trolling. Replaced parts of MCA 1988 and CA 2003 for content sent on or after 31 January 2024.
SOA 2003 s.66A
Sexual Offences Act 2003 — Cyberflashing (s.66A)
Inserted by the Online Safety Act 2023. Criminalises sending or giving a photograph or film of genitals (cyberflashing).
PHA 1997
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Creates offences of harassment, stalking, and putting people in fear of violence. Provides for restraining orders.
OAPA 1861
Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Principal statute for non-fatal offences against the person — assault, ABH, GBH, wounding. Common law assault and battery sit alongside.
CDA 1971
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Covers destroying or damaging property belonging to another, including aggravated criminal damage (endangering life), arson, and threats to destroy or damage.
FA 2006
Fraud Act 2006
Replaced the old deception offences with a single offence of fraud committable in three ways: false representation, failing to disclose, and abuse of position.
MSA 2015
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Consolidated and strengthened modern slavery offences. Officers must consider the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for any potential victim.
DAA 2021
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Created a statutory definition of domestic abuse, made non-fatal strangulation a specific offence, and extended controlling/coercive behaviour to ex-partners.
MHA 1983
Mental Health Act 1983
Police powers under ss.135 and 136 to remove people experiencing a mental-health crisis to a place of safety. Detention period reduced to 24 hours by the Policing and Crime Act 2017.
ASBCPA 2014
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Replaced ASBOs with a suite of preventative tools — Community Protection Notices, Public Spaces Protection Orders, Dispersal Powers, and Civil Injunctions/Criminal Behaviour Orders.
TACT 2000
Terrorism Act 2000
Defines terrorism and creates the principal terrorism offences and police powers, including stop and search, arrest without warrant, and port/border examinations.
CMA 1990
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Principal cybercrime statute — criminalises unauthorised access, unauthorised access with intent, unauthorised modification, and supplying tools for use in offences.