The Weak-Grounds Stop

Main concern. A section 1 PACE search requires reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is in possession of a stolen or prohibited article or an offensive weapon. "Looked nervous and walked away" is not, without more, an objective basis for that suspicion. Continuing the search risks an unlawful stop, a breach of the man's Article 8 rights, damage to community confidence and potential misconduct proceedings.

Next few minutes.

• Do not simply "back up" the search without satisfying yourself that grounds exist. Ask Hale, away from the man if possible but without creating a public confrontation, what his grounds are and what information he relied on.
• If there are no reasonable grounds, the search should not continue. Hale should explain this to the man, and you should support a calm, respectful exit.
• If Hale has already begun the search, the priority is to prevent it going further while you clarify. Do not physically intervene unless necessary; if Hale refuses, contact the acting sergeant by radio or phone.
• Record your own observations and the fact of your concern, not a version that manufactures grounds.
• Note the filming and the crowd; keep your communication neutral and professional.

The key reasoning is that loyalty to a colleague does not override the legal threshold, and the longer an unlawful search continues, the greater the harm.

Recording. The search record must reflect the grounds actually held at the time, not grounds invented afterwards. If the search was not lawful, do not record "suspicious behaviour" as if it were sufficient. Record the information available, the decision taken and any supervisory contact. If a search did take place, the record should identify the officer, the power used, the object sought, the grounds, the outcome and the person's details. Accuracy matters because the record may be disclosed and tested in court or in a complaint.

What to say to Hale. In private, be direct but not hostile: "I was not clear what your grounds were. Nervousness and walking away are not enough on their own. We need to be able to justify this, and I don't think we can." Ask whether he had intelligence you were not aware of. If he did, reassess. If not, say you will raise it with the sergeant. Avoid colluding in a false account; your integrity and the man's rights both matter. Suggest a debrief rather than an argument in front of the public.

Community and safeguarding follow-up. The man is upset and has asked why he was searched. A short, honest explanation should be given if it is safe to do so, but do not disclose confidential intelligence. Acknowledge the impact. The fact that a resident is filming increases the likelihood that the encounter will be judged publicly, so body-worn video should be retained and reviewed. Notify the acting sergeant promptly; consider a community tension report if the crowd is hostile or the incident is being shared online. Check whether the man has any vulnerability - he is 19, but he may still be young and distressed. Give him the search record and information about complaints if a search took place. Follow up with a reflective account and, if appropriate, a misconduct referral. The reasoning is that correcting an unlawful or poorly grounded stop is not just an individual act; it protects trust and prevents escalation.