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Road Traffic Offences

Asked by Dr Luke EvansConservativeHome OfficeTabled Answered 5 November 2025UIN 86318

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the amount of police time taken to administer vehicle stops under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Answered by Sarah Jones

Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA) 1988 allows a police officer in uniform to require the driver of a vehicle to stop when directed.

This is an important provision in maintaining road safety. It also enhances understanding of road traffic crime and vehicle-enabled crime.

Enforcement of traffic law and the deployment of available resources is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

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