Despite the introduction of The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) in 1984, which outlined police powers, including stop and search, arrest and detention, police still have the ability to abuse their powers. An example of the police abusing their powers is with regards to stop and search procedures. Police officers are not allowed to stop people on the grounds of age, sex, appearance, race or previous convictions, set out in code of practice A, under …showed first 75 words of 1115 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1115 total…police the power to stop and search suspected graffiti artists for spray cans and marker pens. The amendments, however, have been criticised as it is felt the requirement for police officers to apply to a superintendent to hold a suspect for longer than 24 hours had been an important check on the abuse of power. PACE helps protect the public as well as the police from injustice but cannot wholly prevent the abuse of police powers.