ABSTRACT
Police powers A problem for the legal system is trying to strike an acceptable balance between the rights of the individual and the need to allow police officers sufficient powers to carry out their role effectively. The rules governing the exercise of police powers are mainly found in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), supplemented by Codes of Practice issued by the Home Office. The Codes of Practice are amended from time to time to take into account changes in the law and new approaches to policing. One amendment, for example, relates to the duty on the police not to discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, or ethnic origin.
