General powers of the police:
Many rules about police behaviour are set down in codes of practice, and there are also laws about some of the things the police can and can't do.
The police are also covered by the law about discrimination, which means it's against the law for them to discriminate against you because of:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
If the police act in a way which does not comply with the law or the codes of practice, it may mean you could sue them, that they could be prosecuted for committing a criminal offence, or that they could be disciplined.
This information does not cover every situation and, if you have problems with the police, you should always take further advice. If you are cautioned or taken to the police station you should always contact a solicitor.
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