⚖️ Know Your Rights

You have rights in every encounter with the police, your employer, your landlord, and the state. Know them. Use them. Document everything.

🚨 KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW

EMERGENCY
999
Police, ambulance, fire
NON-EMERGENCY POLICE
101
Report incidents, get crime refs
LEGAL AID ADVICE LINE
0345 345 4 345
Free legal aid eligibility check
IOPC (COMPLAINTS)
0300 020 0096
Independent police complaints
EHRC HELPLINE
0808 800 0082
Discrimination advice (free)
VICTIM SUPPORT
0808 168 9111
Free, 24/7 support
🛑

Stop & Search — Your Rights

📋
The officer MUST tell you
Their name and badge number · Which police station they're from · Why they're stopping you (the legal power they're using) · What they're looking for · Your right to get a copy of the search record.
Ask for all of this. Write it down.
🤚
You do NOT have to
Answer questions beyond giving your name and address · Unlock your phone · Give your PIN · Allow access to your bags without a lawful reason.
📱
Film it — it's legal
You have the right to film police in a public place. They cannot take your phone or delete footage. Say clearly: "I am recording this interaction." Share the video immediately after.
Send to a trusted person straight away
📄
Always request your search record
Under PACE Code A, you're entitled to a written record of any stop and search. If refused, get the officer's badge number and report it. This record is vital evidence for any complaint.
⚡
Section 60 — No suspicion needed
Under Section 60, police can search anyone in a designated area without needing suspicion. This power is used disproportionately against Black people. You can still request your record, film, and complain.
StopWatch UK monitors S60 — contact them
🔒

If You're Arrested

1
Stay calm. Do not resist. Even if the arrest is unlawful, resisting can lead to additional charges. Challenge it later through legal channels.
2
Say these words: "I am exercising my right to remain silent and I want a solicitor." Say nothing else until your solicitor arrives.
3
You have the right to a free solicitor. Ask for the duty solicitor immediately. Do not agree to be interviewed without one. This is free regardless of your income.
4
You can be held for up to 24 hours without charge (36-96 hours for serious offences). After this they must charge or release you.
5
You have the right to have someone told you've been arrested. Name a trusted person. Police must inform them.
6
After release — document everything. Write down officer names, badge numbers, times, what was said. Take photos of any injuries immediately.
⚖️

Racial Discrimination — Work, Housing & Services

💼
At Work (Equality Act 2010)
It is unlawful to discriminate because of race in hiring, pay, promotion, or dismissal. Keep records of everything — emails, messages, performance reviews. Raise a formal grievance in writing first. If unresolved, you can take your employer to an Employment Tribunal. You have 3 months (minus 1 day) from the incident to bring a claim.
ACAS early conciliation is required first — it's free
🏠
Housing Discrimination
Landlords and letting agents cannot refuse to rent, offer worse terms, or harass you because of your race. If this happens, gather evidence (screenshots, emails, witness accounts) and report to the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) or take a county court claim.
🏪
Goods & Services
Shops, restaurants, banks, clubs — all must treat you equally regardless of race. Being refused entry or service on racial grounds is unlawful. Report to the EHRC or take a county court claim. Document the incident immediately.
🏥
Healthcare Discrimination
You have the right to equal treatment in the NHS. If you believe you've been discriminated against, raise a formal complaint with the Trust's PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service), then escalate to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
📢

Making a Complaint About Police

1️⃣
Complain directly to the force
Contact the Professional Standards Department (PSD) of the police force involved. You can do this online, by phone or in writing. Get a reference number — keep it.
2️⃣
Escalate to the IOPC
If unhappy with the force's response, escalate to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). They investigate serious complaints independently. Call 0300 020 0096 or visit iopc.gov.uk.
3️⃣
Seek legal advice
For serious cases — assault, unlawful arrest, excessive force — contact a civil liberties solicitor. You may be entitled to legal aid or to bring a civil claim for damages.
Document everything before contacting a solicitor
🤝

Organisations & Legal Support

FREE & LOW COST SUPPORT
StopWatch UK
Campaigns against discriminatory stop & search. Provides advice, monitors police use of powers, supports individuals challenging unlawful stops.
stop-watch.org
Liberty (National Council for Civil Liberties)
Challenges injustice through law. Provides legal resources, campaigns on policing, stop & search, and racial equality.
libertyhumanrights.org.uk
Runnymede Trust
The UK's leading race equality think tank. Policy research, reports, and campaigns on systemic racial injustice across institutions.
runnymedetrust.org
EHRC (Equality & Human Rights Commission)
Statutory body that enforces equality law. Free helpline for discrimination advice. Can take legal action on your behalf in serious cases.
equalityhumanrights.com
📞 0808 800 0082 (free)
Citizen Advice Bureau
Free, confidential advice on discrimination, employment, housing, and benefits. Local offices across the UK and online support available.
citizensadvice.org.uk
📞 0800 144 8848 (free)
Ealing Law Centre
Free legal advice for people who cannot afford a solicitor. Specialises in discrimination, housing, immigration and employment.
ealinglaw.org.uk
📞 020 8579 4317
IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct)
Independent body that oversees police complaints in England and Wales. Investigates serious cases of police misconduct.
iopc.gov.uk
📞 0300 020 0096
Inquest
Specialist support for families bereaved through state-related deaths, including deaths in police custody. Expert legal advice and casework support.
inquest.org.uk
📞 020 7263 1111
Bindmans LLP
Leading human rights solicitors. Handle police misconduct, civil claims, discrimination, and public law. Legal aid available for qualifying cases.
bindmans.com
📞 020 7833 4433
Deighton Pierce Glynn
Solicitors specialising in civil liberties, discrimination, and public law. Represent individuals in cases against police and public authorities.
dpgsolicitors.com
📞 020 7407 0007
Hudgell Solicitors
Handle police misconduct, wrongful arrest, and civil claims. No win, no fee for eligible cases. Offices across England.
hudgellsolicitors.co.uk
📞 0800 009 6498 (free)
✊🏿 BLACK-OWNED
Black Legal
Black-owned UK network connecting Black people with Black solicitors and barristers across all practice areas. Free initial referral service.
blacklegal.co.uk
✊🏿 BLACK-LED
Society of Black Lawyers
Black-led organisation of Black British solicitors and barristers. Advocates on racial injustice and police misconduct. Can refer you to a Black legal professional for your case.
societyofblacklawyers.co.uk
✊🏿 BLACK-LED
Black Solicitors Network (BSN)
Black-founded and Black-led directory of solicitors across the UK. Find a Black solicitor near you for employment tribunal, discrimination, housing, or criminal cases.
blacksolicitorsnetwork.co.uk
📝

Document Everything — A Checklist

✅
Officer name(s) and badge numbers
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Date, time and exact location
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Vehicle registration if police car involved
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Witnesses — get their names and contact details
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Photograph any injuries as soon as possible
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Write down everything said — word for word if possible
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Keep all correspondence — letters, emails, texts
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Save any CCTV evidence quickly — it gets deleted
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Request your search record on the same day