Editing Search and seizure (section)

== United Kingdom ==
Historically, [[English law|English common law]] made use of a number of different types of legal [[writ]]s to effect seizures for various reasons. For example, a writ of ''[[arrestandis bonis ne dissipentur]]'' provided for the seizure of goods when it was found likely they would not be properly cared for during a court case to settle ownership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01.p0187&id=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01&isize=M|title=History of Science: Cyclopædia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences – Arboreus – artery|website=digicoll.library.wisc.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-06}}</ref> A writ of ''[[attachiamenta bonorum]]'' allowed for the seizure of [[personal property]] to recover a debt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&id=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01&entity=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01.p0210&q1=Attachiamenta|title=History of Science: Cyclopædia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences – Attachiamenta – azymus|website=digicoll.library.wisc.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-06}}</ref>

In relation to criminal investigations, the police have a range of powers to search people and places without first making an [[arrest]], often described as "stop and search". The United Kingdom has several different legal systems and the powers and procedure for stop and search varies depending on the jurisdiction:
*{{section link|Powers of the police in England and Wales#Search without arrest}} in [[England and Wales]]
*{{section link|Powers of the police in Scotland#Search without a warrant}} in [[Scotland]]