stop-and-search

See also: stop and search

English

Alternative forms

stop-and-frisk, stop and search

Adjective

stop-and-search

(law, law enforcement) Of or pertaining to laws or policing practices, found in some jurisdictions, which permit a law enforcement officer to temporarily detain and search a member of the public based on the officer's suspicions.
- 1990 January 18, Constance L. Hays, “3 Cases Raise Questions on Boston Police Methods”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 August 2013:
  Adding to the department's problems is a long-running controversy over a stop-and-search policy that includes random searches of young black men.
- 1997 November 13, Rob Modic, “Motorist Must Know "Free to Go"”, in Dayton Daily News, USA, retrieved 20 August 2013:
  The high court renewed its decision to throw out evidence in a 1992 Montgomery County traffic stop-and-search case that uncovered a small amount of marijuana and a methamphetamine pill.
- 2008, Simon Assaf, “London mayor elections: Ken and Boris launch a war on young people”, in Socialist Worker, UK, retrieved 20 August 2013:
  Both parties support ‘stop and search’ – also known as ‘sus’ laws. Under these laws, the police can stop anyone under ‘reasonable’ suspicion that they could commit a crime.
- 2013 August 12, “US Court says NYPD ‘Stop-and-Search’ Violates Rights”, in Voice of America, retrieved 20 August 2013:
  A U.S. judge has ruled the New York Police Department has violated the rights of tens of thousands of people by intentionally discriminating against racial minorities with its controversial "stop-and-search" policy.

Noun

stop-and-search (plural stops-and-searches or stop-and-searches)

A police action of this type.
- 1996 April 5, "The Baer Truth: It Was A Shameless Judicial Cave-in, New York Daily News (retrieved 20 August 2013):
  Read literally, he simply ruled that a cop made a bad collar, a stop-and-search without "reasonable suspicion."