Do you have to give police your phone password?
An officer just asking for your PIN is not the same as a formal legal notice. You can say no to the officer. You cannot say no to the formal notice.
- If an officer asks for your PIN you can say no.
- There is no general crime of refusing to unlock your phone.
- This changes if you are given a formal written notice under the law.
- Knowingly failing to comply with that formal notice is a crime.
- The formal notice is a written document.
- You can ask to see the notice if you are told you must give your password.
- If a notice has been served on you get legal advice straight away.
- At a border you must give information an officer asks for.
- At a border this includes access to your device.
- There is no right to silence at a border.
- Turning off fingerprint or face unlock before travelling is a practical choice.
- Destroying or hiding evidence is a separate and serious crime.
This is the short and simple version.
The full page has more detail. It also shows the law each point comes from.
Checked 2026-08-26. This is information, not legal advice.