This is never more so than in police work; police officers come across and deal with all sorts of people and problems; how much easier it would be if we could refer to a single word and all understand at an instant just what is being described.
The Police Officer's Essential Dictionary goes some way to rectifying this problem. Armed with a whole new set of words it is now possible to cut down on all the fumbling with words and phrases when, with a little searching, the exact person or event is described here in precisely one word.
(q.v.) | a reference to another item in the dictionary |
(n.) | noun |
(vb.) | verb |
(adj.) | adjective |
Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) | an assault where injury is caused to a victim |
Assault on Police | an assault on a police officer, usually where no injury is caused |
CB | citizens band radio |
CID | Criminal Investigation Department; plain clothes detectives |
CPS | Crown Prosecution Service - the organisation of lawyers who prosecute police cases |
Division | a geographical and administrative area into which the police district is divided |
Drum | slang for 'house' |
Factory | slang for 'police station' |
HORT/1 | a ticket given to a driver for him to produce his licence etc. at a police station within 7 days |
Job | any police officer is said to be 'in the job' |
Lion Intoximeter | machine used to measure amount of alcohol in the breath |
Personal radio | a radio carried by each officer on duty; direct line to his local police station |
Probationer | police officer in the first two years of service; rookie |
Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) | police photographer and scientific evidence gatherer |
Spin his drum | slang for searching someone's house |
Suit | slang for 'solicitor' |
Uniform | CID slang for member of the uniform section |
VHF | radio system carried in each car; operates on VHF frequency and is direct line to HQ |