Stop and Search, released in 2007 as a signed edition of 500 prints, is a sharp commentary on authority and surveillance. Rendered primarily in monochrome, the image depicts Dorothy—the central character from The Wizard of Oz—and her dog, Toto, confronted by a police officer wearing bright blue latex gloves, the only colored element in the piece. The officer is searching through Dorothy’s basket, turning a moment of innocence into one of absurd intimidation.

By drawing on the familiar narrative of Dorothy trying to return home, Banksy emphasizes the intrusion of authority into spaces that should be safe. The purity and naivety associated with Dorothy in the film heighten the tension, underscoring the ridiculousness and menace of the search. In this way, the work becomes a striking metaphor: even figures who symbolize innocence and freedom are not immune to the invasive reach of the state.