the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
/ðə pəˌliːs ən ˌkrɪmɪnl ˈevɪdəns ækt/
/ðə pəˌliːs ən ˌkrɪmɪnl ˈevɪdəns ækt/
(abbreviation PACE)
- a British law passed in 1984 which sets down rules for the behaviour of the police in fighting crime. The rules are about their powers to stop and search people and to search buildings, about arresting, questioning and keeping people at a police station, and holding information about people and their criminal records.