English for Police - Vocabulary
As a police officer you have one of the most important jobs in the world: to serve and protect the people. While you are fighting crime and handling emergencies you probably come across many English speakers. Some may commit crimes, while others may be victims of crime. In both cases, you need to ask and answer questions in English. Your job may also require you to speak to English witnesses. Time can be a key factor in solving a crime or saving a life. You cannot always wait for an interpreter. These pages will help you learn vocabulary and phrases that will be useful when you encounter English speakers. Do the exercises and take the quizzes to test your knowledge and understanding.
Vocabulary
| Vocabulary part of speech | Meaning | Example sentence | |
| arrest verb | take into police control | My partner arrested the man who set fire to the building. | |
| assailant noun | person who assaults or attacks | Did you see the assailant run away? | |
| at large (on the loose) preposition + adjective | not caught, running free | I'm afraid that the man who robbed the bank is still at large. | |
| armed and dangerous adjective | is carrying a weapon and has a violent background | Do not approach the thief if you see him. He is considered armed and dangerous. | |
| back-up noun | police that are called in to support or help | We're calling for back up now that we know she has a gun. | |
| bail noun | large amount of money that someone pays as a promise to appear in cour | Your husband's bail is posted at 20, 000 dollars. | |
| baton (night stick) noun | heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves | No, we don't carry guns. We only have batons. | |
| book someone verb | register someone as a criminal | We're taking your brother down to the station to book him. | |
| break into verb | enter a residence, car, or business illegally | Do you have any idea who would have broken into your car? | |
| burglar noun | a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items | We think the burglar got in through your chimney. | |
| cell noun | individual room in a jail/prison | We'll have to keep you in a cell until someone comes to pay your bail. | |
| convict noun | a person who is doing (or supposed to be doing) jailtime | Please be aware that there is a convict on the loose. | |
| cop/copper noun | police officer (common slang) | Did somebody here call the cops? | |
| criminal record noun | a file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed | We don't allow anyone with a criminal record into our country. | |
| crime scene noun | the place where a crime happened | Please stay outside the yellow tape. This is a crime scene. | |
| cruiser (squad car) noun | police car | Please step out of your vehicle and get into the police cruiser. | |
| (in) custody noun | under police control | You will be happy to know that we have taken the kidnapper into custody. | |
| DUI/DWI | (Driving Under the Influence/Driving while Intoxicated). Driving after drinking too much alcohol | Your record says that you have two previous DUIs. | |
| detective noun | police officer responsible for solving crime | The detective is going to ask you a few questions about the man's appearance. | |
| do time verb + noun | receive punishment for a crime by spending time in jail | You won't be required to do any time but you will have to pay a fine. | |
| domestic dispute adjective + noun | argument/trouble in the home(often leads to violence) | We've had a number of calls reporting a domestic dispute in your hotel room. | |
| escape verb | get away from a holding place | If you try to escape we will have to restrain you with handcuffs. | |
| felony noun | a major crime (e.g. murder) | Murder is considered a felony and is punishable by life in prison. | |
| fine noun | money that a person pays for breaking a law | You can get charged a large fine for speeding in a school zone. | |
| fingerprints noun | marks left by fingers that identify a person | We're going to have to check your personal belongings for fingerprints. | |
| firearms noun | weapons that shoot | It is illegal to carry unregistered firearms such as rifles and pistols. | |
| gang noun | a group of people often associated with crime and drugs | Stay away from this area at night as there is a lot of gang activity. | |
| guilty adjective | responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment | You will be considered innocent until you are proven guilty. | |
| handcuffs noun | metal rings that attach to wrists to keep criminals (or the accused)from escaping | We put your boyfriend in handcuffs, because we saw him climbing through your window and thought he was an intruder. | |
| innocent adjective | not responsible for the crime | We'll believe you are innocent when you show us your receipt for the items in the bag. | |
| intruder noun | a person who enters a home or business illegally | Someone called to report an intruder on the third floor. | |
| jail (prison) noun | a place where criminals are confined | The guards will be patrolling the prison all day long. | |
| misdemeanor noun | a minor crime (punishment is usually a fine or less than one year in jail) | Stealing a road sign is considered a misdemeanor,but is punishable by a large fine. | |
| noise complaint noun | a call to the police to complain of disturbing noise (usually music or a party) | Two of your neighbours have made a noise complaint tonight. | |
| partner noun | another officer that a policeman drives and works with | I'm going to get you to tell your story to my partner. | |
| patrol (on patrol) verb | observe and protect an area | We always patrol the downtown core on the weekends. | |
| perpetrator noun | person who committed the crime | The perpetrator is still at large. | |
| pickpocket noun | a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds | Beware of pickpockets on the subway. | |
| pistol noun | a hand held firearm | Our local cops carry pistols but rarely use them. | |
| pursuit noun | the act of searching for | We are in pursuit of a man in a green jacket and orange pants. | |
| radar noun/adjective | radio wave transmission that helps police track cars and map crime scenes | According to our radar you were driving well above the speed limit. | |
| robbery noun | theft; taking something that does not belong to you, often with force | We have twenty officers investigating the bank robbery. | |
| speeding ticket noun | a fine given to a driver who gets caught driving beyond the speed limit | Your license shows a clean driving record except for one speeding ticket from five years ago. | |
| steal verb | to take something that does not belong to you | Do you know who stole your wallet? | |
| street crime noun | crime such as drugs and prostitution | Don't give the beggars any money. You will only be promoting street crime. | |
| thief noun | somebody who steals | We have found the thief who stole your car. | |
| walkie-talkie noun | hand held radio each partner carries | My partner told me your license plate over his walkie-talkie. | |
| wanted adjective | being searched for by police | A man from your hotel is wanted for his involvement in a murder. | |
| witness verb | to see something happen | Three people witnessed the murder but they are afraid to speak. | |
| young offender (juvenile delinquent) noun | a minor who commits a crime (usually under age of 18) | Your punishment will be less severe because you are a young offender. | |
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English for Work : Police,
Grammar,
Vocabulary
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