to witness (verb):	to see something happen
a witness (noun):	a person who sees something happen

Witnesses are valuable to the police. A witness is somebody who is actually present when something happens and sees what happens. The police usually like to question all witnesses as soon as possible after a crime, accident or other event.

Questions police ask witnesses

• Did you see what she was wearing?
• Did he have a weapon?
• Was the gun loaded?
• What kind of car was the thief driving?
• I will need to get a statement from you.
• How long ago did this happen?
• If you think of anything else, please notify us.

Description of a suspect

• He was wearing sunglasses.
• He had a mustache.
• He had a beard.
• She was dressed in black.
• She had a baseball cap on.
• She was wearing gloves.
• Hair: short, long, shoulder length, curly, straight, spiky, brown, blond, black, red, in a ponytail
• Body: skinny, fat, chubby, medium build, muscular, tall, short, average height

Sample Conversation

An ESL teacher working in Korea witnesses a bank robbery. The police question her as a witness...

Police:	I understand you were the key witness for the robbery.
Woman:	Yes, I was the only other person in the bank besides the tellers.
Police:	Are you okay to answer some questions for me?
Woman:	Sure. I don't know how much help I'll be. He made me get on the ground so I didn't get a very good look at him.
Police:	Was he carrying a weapon?
Woman:	Yes, he had a pistol in his back pocket. He threatened to use it, but I doubt it was loaded.
Police:	What makes you say that?
Woman:	He was just a kid. Probably fifteen or younger.
Police:	Can you describe him for me?
Woman:	He was Asian. Probably five foot six. He was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. I can't remember what else he was wearing.
Police:	Did he talk directly to you? I mean, did he ask you for your money or anything?
Woman:	No, he just told me to get on the ground. That's all I know. I'm running late for a class. Is it okay if I go now?
Police:	I just want to get your name and phone number. If you think of anything else, please notify us.

Pulling over drivers

• Can I see your driver's licence and passport?
• Have you been drinking tonight?
• How much have you had to drink?
• How fast do you think you were going?
• Do you know what the speed limit is?
• Is this a rental car?
  
• You were driving too fast.
• You broke the speed limit.
• You were driving on the wrong side of the road.
• You're driving the wrong way in a one-way street.
• You were travelling too close to the car in front of you.
• You cut off another car.
• You didn't obey the traffic signals.
• You aren't wearing your seatbelt.
• You aren't allowed to park here.
  
• I'm going to keep your driving licence and give you a ticket. You can go to the police station to pay the fine. They will give your driving license back to you.

Questions police ask an injured driver

• Are you hurt?
• Can you stand up/move?
• Where does it hurt most?
• How did the accident happen?
• Who was at fault?
• What did the other car look like?
• Is there someone you want to call?
• Don't worry. We've called an ambulance.

Sample Conversation

A Japanese police officer pulls over an American driver on the highway for speeding...

Police:	Can I see your driver's license please?
Man:	Ah, yeah. I think it's in my pocket. No. Maybe my wallet. Uh. Yeah here.
Police:	Do you know how fast you were driving?
Man:	No, sorry. It's a rental car. I'm not used to it.
Police:	Have you been drinking tonight, Mr. Davidson?
Man:	I had one or two drinks. I'm okay to drive, though. I know my limit.
Police:	How long have you been in Japan?
Man:	A few weeks, why?
Police:	It seems you are unaware of our zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Man:	I'm not drunk. I'll blow into a breathalizer.
Police:	In Japan you cannot operate a vehicle after consuming any alcohol.
Man:	Oh, I didn't know that.
Police:	You were also going over the speed limit, Mr. Davidson. I'm going to have to ask you to step out of your vehicle and get into my car.
Man:	This is crazy. But what about my car?
Police:	We'll have the rental car towed to the agency. When you're in our country you have to respect our rules.

Questions tourists ask police

 

• I'm lost. Can you help me find the Pacific Hotel?
• I'm looking for the American Consulate/Embassy.
• My luggage/suitcase was stolen. What should I do?
• Who can we trust to exchange our money?
• Where is the bad part of town?
• Please help us. Our child is missing.

Questions police ask tourists

• Which hotel are you staying at?
• When did you lose your wallet?
• How much money was in your purse?
• What did the thief look like?
• What was the man wearing?
• Did he have a weapon?
• Where/When did you last see your child?
• How old is your child?
• What was your child wearing?

Comforting a tourist in distress

• Please stay calm. I am going to help you.
• We will do everything we can.
• I'll give you a map of the city.
• Try not to panic.
• I can give you a ride to the hospital.
• The ambulance is on its way.
• Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.

Sample Conversation

A Spanish police officer helps a British woman find her missing child...

Woman:	Help! Police!
Police:	What's wrong?
Woman:	My daughter is missing. I can't find her anywhere!
Police:	Okay. Calm down. I'm going to help you find her. What's her name?
Woman:	Erica. She's only five. She doesn't know how to speak Spanish!
Police:	Okay. What does Erica look like?
Woman:	She has brown curly hair. She's skinny and small for her age.
Police:	Okay. What is she wearing today?
Woman:	Blue shorts and a pink T-shirt. She has a hat on too, I think.
Police:	How long ago did she go missing?
Woman:	I've been looking for her for almost an hour now.
Police:	And where did you last see her?
Woman:	We were just shopping in the vegetable section. I turned around and she was gone.
Police:	Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.
Woman:	What should I do?
Police:	Stay right at the front of the store in case she comes looking for you. We'll start looking for her now.

1	A thief goes into your house through a window. AbuseFraudBurglaryVandalism	Click for answerBurglary
2	A child steals a chocolate bar from a store. VandalismShopliftingChild abuseTorture	Click for answerShoplifting
3	A teenager drives faster than the limit. ArsonHijackingSpeedingDrunk driving	Click for answerSpeeding
4	A Mexican sells cocaine to a Canadian. TerrorismDrunk drivingTheftDrug trafficking	Click for answerDrug trafficking
5	A guard refuses to give a prisoner food or water unless the prisoner gives up information. GraffitiAbductionTortureHijacking	Click for answerTorture
6	A man shoots his second wife dead. MurderArmed robberyTheftSpeeding	Click for answerMurder
7	A juvenile delinquent throws a lit match into a building. ArsonShopliftingDomestic violenceHijacking	Click for answerArson
8	A terrorist group takes over an airplane and changes its course. VandalismTraffickingHijackingDomestic violence	Click for answerHijacking
9	A group of kids use spray paint to write on a bridge. TortureAssaultChild abuseVandalism	Click for answerVandalism
10	A man opens a law firm and pretends that he is a lawyer. BurglaryArmed robberyDomestic violenceFraud	Click for answerFraud

A crime is a serious offense such as murder or robbery. A punishment is a penalty imposed on somebody who is convicted of a crime. A punishment could be, for example, time in prison or a fine.

Tip-: There is an important difference between criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with matters such as murder. Civil law deals with matters such as contracts or divorce. The police are not normally involved in civil law.

Questions from law breakers or suspected criminals

• Why did you pull me over?
• Have I done something wrong?
• Is this illegal?
• What are my rights?
• Can I call a lawyer?
• Where are you taking me?
• Can I make a phone call?

Questions police may ask a suspected criminal

• Are you carrying any illegal drugs?
• Do you have a weapon?
• Does this belong to you?
• Whose car is this?
• Where were you at eight last night?

Informing someone of laws and police procedures

• You are under arrest.
• Put your hands on your head.
• I am taking you to the police station.
• Please get in the police car.
• You will have to pay a fine for this.
• I will give you a warning this time.
• I'm going to write you a ticket.
• We'll tow your car to the station.
• Smoking in restaurants is illegal in this country.
• It is against the law to do drugs in public.

Types of crime

Crime	Definition
abduction/kidnapping	taking a person to a secret location using force
armed robbery	using a weapon to steal
arson	setting fire to a place on purpose
assault	hurting another person physically
attempted murder	trying to kill someone (but failing)
burglary, breaking and entering	going into another person's home or business with force
child abuse	injuring a child on purpose
domestic violence	physical assault that occur within the home
drug trafficking	trading illegal drugs
drunk driving	driving after having too much alcohol
fraud	lying or cheating for business or monetary purposes
hijacking	holding people in transit hostage (usually on a plane)
murder/homicide	taking someone's life through violence
shoplifting	stealing merchandise from a store
smuggling	bringing products into a country secretly and illegally
speeding	driving beyond the speed limit
terrorism	acts of crime against a group (political/religious) or another country
theft	stealing
torture	extremely cruel and unfair treatment (often towards prisoners)
vandalism	damaging public or private property (for example with spray paint)
white collar crime	breaking the law in business

Types of punishment

Punishment (example offence)	Definition
traffic ticket (speeding, parking)	leaves marks on driving record/involves paying a fine
license suspension (drunk driving)	driving rights are removed for a certain period of time
fine (hunting out of season)	pay money as punishment for minor/petty crime
house arrest (a young offender who is waiting to go to court)	remain in one's home for a certain period of time
community service (a youth that steals a car for the first time)	do volunteer work such as teaching children about crime or cleaning up garbage
jail time (man who assaults his wife)	spend a certain amount of months or years locked away from society
life in prison (a woman who commits homicide)	spend the rest of one's life in prison with no chance of going back into society