Legislation Quick Reference
A quick-reference index of the 13 Acts an officer reaches for most — PACE, Theft Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Public Order Act, Road Traffic Act, Sexual Offences Act, Domestic Abuse Act, Firearms Act, Terrorism Act and more — with key sections grouped by category and linked to legislation.gov.uk.
Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).
Reviewed by BlueLineHub Editorial
What are the key Acts and sections an officer needs to know, and where can I find the full text?
The core Acts fall into eight categories: powers and person (PACE 1984, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Firearms Act 1968, Criminal Justice Act 2003), property (Theft Act 1968, Criminal Damage Act 1971), drugs (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), public order (Public Order Act 1986), traffic (Road Traffic Act 1988), sexual offences (Sexual Offences Act 2003), domestic abuse (Domestic Abuse Act 2021), and terrorism (Terrorism Act 2000, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008).
Each Act below is listed with its key sections and a self-citing link to its contents page on legislation.gov.uk, the authoritative source for the current text of UK legislation.
A quick-reference index of 13 Acts every officer should know, grouped by category with their key sections and a link to the full text on legislation.gov.uk. It is educational reference, not legal advice — for the exact wording and current force, always read the Act itself and follow your force's legal services guidance.
Powers and offences against the person
PACE, modern slavery, firearms, and the wider criminal justice framework.
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) | s.1 stop & search; s.17 entry to premises; s.24 arrest without warrant; s.28 information on arrest; s.30 taken to police station; s.32 search on arrest; s.34-46 detention; s.54 search of detained persons; s.58 right to legal advice; s.76/78 evidence admissibility (confessions / exclusion of unfair evidence) |
| Modern Slavery Act 2015 | s.1 slavery, servitude and forced labour; s.2 human trafficking; s.45 defence for victims; National Referral Mechanism (NRM) |
| Firearms Act 1968 | s.1 firearms and ammunition requiring a certificate; s.5 prohibited weapons; s.16 possession with intent to endanger life; s.19 carrying a firearm in a public place |
| Criminal Justice Act 2003 | Part 2 bail; Part 12 sentencing framework; dangerous-offender provisions |
Property offences
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Theft Act 1968 | s.1 theft; s.8 robbery; s.9 burglary; s.12 taking a conveyance without authority (TWOC); s.22 handling stolen goods |
| Criminal Damage Act 1971 | s.1 destroying or damaging property; s.1(2) damage with intent to endanger life; s.2 threats to destroy or damage; s.3 possessing articles with intent |
Drugs
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 | s.4 production & supply; s.5 possession (s.5(3) possession with intent to supply); s.23 search powers; Schedule 2 Class A/B/C classification |
Public order
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Public Order Act 1986 | s.1 riot; s.2 violent disorder; s.3 affray; s.4 fear or provocation of violence; s.4A intentional harassment, alarm or distress; s.5 harassment, alarm or distress |
Traffic
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Road Traffic Act 1988 | s.1 causing death by dangerous driving; s.2 dangerous driving; s.3 careless driving; s.4-6 drink/drug driving & preliminary tests; s.87 requirement to hold a driving licence; s.143 no insurance; s.170 failing to stop/report after accident |
Sexual offences
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Sexual Offences Act 2003 | s.1-4 principal offences (rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, causing sexual activity without consent); s.5-8 child sexual offences; s.16-19 abuse of position of trust; s.74-76 consent |
Domestic abuse
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Domestic Abuse Act 2021 | s.1 statutory definition of domestic abuse (which includes controlling or coercive behaviour); s.3 children treated as victims; Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs, Part 3) |
Terrorism
| Act | Key sections |
|---|---|
| Terrorism Act 2000 | s.41 arrest without warrant of a suspected terrorist; s.43 search of a person reasonably suspected to be a terrorist; s.47A no-suspicion searches in an authorised area; Schedule 7 port & border examination |
| Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 | s.22 post-charge questioning of terrorism suspects |
Related reading
Primary sources
BlueLineHub is independent and unofficial. Always verify with the authoritative source below.
- Verify on official source
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 — full contents
Contents page linking to every Part and section of PACE 1984, including the powers listed above.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Theft Act 1968 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Theft Act 1968, including theft, robbery, burglary, TWOC and handling.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Criminal Damage Act 1971 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section and schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, including Schedule 2 classification.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Public Order Act 1986 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Public Order Act 1986, from riot down to disorderly behaviour.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Road Traffic Act 1988 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Road Traffic Act 1988, including ss.1-6 driving offences and s.170 failing to stop.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Sexual Offences Act 2003 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, including principal offences, child offences and consent provisions.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Domestic Abuse Act 2021 — full contents
Contents page linking to every Part and section of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including s.1 definition, s.3 children as victims, and Part 3 DAPOs.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Modern Slavery Act 2015 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including s.1 slavery/servitude/forced labour and s.2 human trafficking.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Firearms Act 1968 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Firearms Act 1968, including s.1 certificate requirement and s.5 prohibited weapons.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Criminal Justice Act 2003 — full contents
Contents page linking to every Part of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, including Part 2 bail and Part 12 sentencing.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Terrorism Act 2000 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section and schedule of the Terrorism Act 2000, including s.41, s.43, s.47A and Schedule 7.
Last checked: August 2026 - Verify on official source
Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 — full contents
Contents page linking to every section of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, including s.22 post-charge questioning.
Last checked: August 2026
Frequently asked
- What section of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers dangerous driving?
- s.2 covers dangerous driving. s.1 is a separate, more serious offence — causing death by dangerous driving. Careless driving is s.3, and drink/drug driving and preliminary tests are ss.4-6.
- What does s.1 of the Firearms Act 1968 cover?
- s.1 covers firearms and ammunition requiring a certificate. Prohibited weapons — the more serious category — are covered separately by s.5. s.16 covers possession with intent to endanger life and s.19 covers carrying a firearm in a public place.
- Which section of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children as victims?
- s.3 treats a child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of domestic abuse as a victim in their own right. s.1 is the statutory definition of domestic abuse (which includes controlling or coercive behaviour); the coercive-control offence itself is a separate provision, s.76 Serious Crime Act 2015.