British Council English For Modern Policing

Mark Roberts (coordinator)

Ioana Bordeianu Ileana Chersan

Camelia Budişteanu Cătălina Harabagiu-Dimitrescu

Andrea Călugăriţa Amalia Niţu

Ileana Catina Gabriela Şerbănoiu

ENGLISH

for

MODERN POLICING

A practical English language

course for law-enforcement

students and professionals.

STUDENT’S BOOK

TEXTBOOK UNITS

UNIT 1

Descriptions

Ileana Catina, Centrul de Studii

Postuniversitare, Bucureşti

UNIT 8

Policing the Multicultural Society

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

Amalia Niţu, Academia de Poliţie,

“ A.I.Cuza”, Bucureşti

UNIT 2

Crime and Punishment

Ileana Chersan, Academia de Poliţie,

“A.I.Cuza”, Bucureşti

UNIT 9

Trafficking in Human beings

Ioana Bordeianu, Şcoala de Agenţi de

Poliţie de Frontieră,” Avram Iancu”,

Oradea

UNIT 3

Criminal Investigations

Cătălina Harabagiu-Dimitrescu,

Centrul de Studii Postuniversitar,

Bucureşti

UNIT 10

Dealing with Vehicle Crime

Ioana Bordeianu, Şcoala de Agenţi de

Poliţie de Frontieră,” Avram Iancu”,

Oradea

UNIT 4

Crime, investigation and social

relevance

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

UNIT 11

Countering Terrorism

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

UNIT 5

Crime in Society: Domestic

Violence and Violence against

Women

Cătălina Harabagiu-Dimitrescu,

Centrul de Studii Postuniversitare,

Bucureşti

UNIT 12

Computer Crime, Fraud and

Economic Crime

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

UNIT 6

Crime in Society: Child Abuse

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

UNIT 13

Combatting Organised Crime

Mark Roberts, British Council, România

Gabriela Şerbănoiu, Academia de Poliţie

“A.I. Cuza”, Bucureşti

UNIT 7

Women: For Better and For

Worse

Camelia Budişteanu, Academia de Poliţie,

“A.I.Cuza”, Bucureşti

UNIT 14

Criminology

Andreea Călugăriţa, Academia de Poliţie

“A.I. Cuza”, Bucureşti

Mark Roberts, British Council, Romania

UNIT 1 DESCRIPTIONS

INTRODUCTION

Police officers will, on many occasions in their service, either be required to describe a person or

obtain a description.

Think about the topic. Discuss the following questions.

1. What is a description?

2. Why do we use descriptions in police work?

3. What should you pay particular attention to when compiling a description of a person?

4. When compiling a description of property what details should you pay particular

attention to?

5. Are there any special skills required for police officers in producing a reliable and

accurate description of things which they have seen?

Activity 1

Think about the members of your class. Try to describe one of them so accurately that all

the others in the class would identify that person from your description. The following

checklist may be of help to you- but obviously you do not mention his/her name yet!

a) Full name, including any alias/ nickname

age: he/she is 20 years old; he is 20 years of age; he is aged 20; he is a 20 year old youth;

he is in his twenties/ early 20s/ late 20s; he is about/ approximately 20.

age group: school age / young/ middle aged/ old.

age range: under…/ over….

b) Appearance

Height: tall/ short/ medium height/ average height

Build: fat/ heavy/ medium/ slim/ thin/ slightly built/ well built

Colour (ethnic origin): Caucasian or white European/ dark European/ Asian/ Afro￾Caribbean /Latin-American

Complexion: fresh/ ruddy/ pale/ pimply/ uses cosmetics

Hair: length/type- short/ long/ curly/ wavy/ bald/ colour- dark/brown/blond/grey/dyed.

He has got dark hair/ he is dark haired

Hair on face (facial hair): beard/ moustache/ dark chin/stubble

Eyes – colour of the eyes:

He has got blue eyes/ he is blue eyed

c) Distinctive (distinguishing) marks: birth marks/ moles/ warts/ scars/ tattoos/ deformity

other identifying marks.

d) Characteristics and habits: drinking/ smoking/ known associates

e) Dress (clothing): smart/ casual/ sporting/ scruffy/ vagrant

Items of clothing.

Try to build up a complete description of yourself.

Activity 2

Grammar: Order of adjectives

1. She has got curly blond long hair.

2. He is wearing a long black leather jacket.

3. He is a middle aged short man.

4. He is driving a black small car.

What’s wrong with these sentences?

This is generally the correct order of adjectives:

Size Style/pattern Colour/material (Noun)

Put the adjectives in order in these phrases:

a) grey short straight hair

b) brown large round eyes

c) grey woolen long sweater

d) short silk floral dress

e) cotton striped blouse short-sleeved

f) blue dark four-door saloon

Activity 3

Translate the following text into English:

Martorul incidentului a declarat ofiţerului anchetator că l-a văzut pe cel care a tras două focuri de

armă asupra victimei. El a descris suspectul după cum urmează:

“ Suspectul era un bărbat alb, de talie mijlocie, în vârstă de aproximativ 30 de ani. Avea părul

negru tuns scurt şi mustaţă. Purta un tricou de culoare deschisă şi pantaloni negri. După atac s-a

urcat într-o maşină albă, model japonez, cred, şi a părăsit locul faptei în viteză. Asta-i tot ce îmi

amintesc.”

Activity 4

Reading

OPERATION GRANGER

Detectives investigating a series of serious indecent assaults in Havant and Hayling Island know

that at least two were carried out by the same man.

And the methods used in the other incidents- between December 1999 and July 2000- suggest

that he could also have been responsible for at least three others.

A major inquiry team has been set up to investigate the assaults, and DNA evidence has shown

there is a positive link between two of the attacks – on a 51-year- old woman between Havant

and Emsworth and on a 13- year- old girl in a Hayling Island church yard.

Detectives are especially keen to find the perpetrator before he strikes again because his attacks

are becoming progressively more violent and showing signs of more planning.

In the most recent attack – on Friday, July 7, 2000, at 7.50pm – a 15- year- old girl was cycling

home north along the disused Hayling Billy railway line, now a public footpath. As she reached

West Lane she heard someone on the path behind her. Thinking it was a jogger or walker she

made way for them to pass, but instead she was grabbed from behind by a man.

The attacker threatened to kill her if she struggled and tried to drag her into the bushes at the side

of the footpath. But the girl managed to fight her way free and screamed for help, frightening the

man off.

The terrified girl was then able to cycle to a petrol station and phoned the police. She has been

able to describe the man who attacked her as follows:

• White

• Clean shaven

• 5ft 7ins tall

• Short grey to fair hair

• Physically weak

• Wearing a black woollen hat

• Long sleeved dark coloured top and jogging bottoms

• Gloves

She has also helped detectives piece together a CD-fit image of the attacker.

This attack bears all the hallmarks of at least four other incidents since December 1999 – and

another reported prowler incident could also have been the work of this man. Based on the

victims’ statements, the composite description of the man responsible for their ordeals is that he

is:

• Aged 35 to 55 years

• 5ft 5 in to 5ft 8in tall

• Slim to slight build

• Described by all the victims as physically weak

• Reasonably deep voice

• Smelled very strongly of cigarettes

• In four out of the five attacks he wore gloves.

In the May attack, -the only one in daylight – he wore a dark blue sweatshirt or, possibly a blue

jacket with side pockets, and pale blue or possibly white trousers or jeans.

Police officers want to hear from anyone who recognise the description.

Exercise 1

Decide which statements are true and which are false. Write T if you think the statement is

true and F if you think it is false.

1. Detectives are investigating a series of indecent exposure cases.

2. DNA evidence has shown there is no positive link between two of the attacks.

3. A 15-year-old girl was cycling home

4. She was grabbed by the hand.

5. The attacker dragged her into the bushes at the side of the footpath.

6. The victim drove off to a petrol station and phoned the medical services.

7. The girl described the man as being black, short but strong, wearing light coloured clothes.

8. The suspect is known as a heavy cigar smoker.

9. The same attacker may also be responsible for at least three other attacks.

10. Police launched a nationwide hunt for the man who carried out the assaults.

Follow - up discussion

Work in groups or with a partner and discuss the following issues:

Motive for the attack

Known description

Expected description

Follow-up investigation

Chances of the attacker being caught

Punishment for such offences under the criminal code

Activity 5

a) Vocabulary – specialist terminology related to suspects’ description. Find the right

equivalent in Romanian.

To describe a person

To give a description

To compile a description

To produce a reliable and accurate description

To draw a sketch

To build a description/picture

Personal description/word picture/spoken picture /sketch portrait

Face image

Computer description (CD) fit/identity kit/photo-fit system

Computer –generated image (E-Fit)

Mugshots/ mugbook

Features (the face or countenance)

Description of suspect/offender

To fit/ match the description

To locate suspects

Suspects wanted for

Suspects considered to be armed and dangerous

Suspect described as follows

Last seen wearing

Exercise 2

Choose the right word from the list above to complete the text :

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

To all Station Commanders

The Serious Crimes Squad is requesting the assistance of your office in ____1______ four

suspects ____2_____ for the shooting of a Turkish businessman at the Palace Hotel in Bucharest.

The members of our Squad are in the process of ____3_____ the pictures of the alleged shooters

based on descriptions ____4_____ by witnesses. Using ____5___ from police criminal records

we’ve found no one _____6_____ the offenders’____7_____.

Photocopy pictures of the suspects will be made available to you as soon as possible.

Should your officers locate any of the suspects, report location immeadiately. Do not attempt to

apprehend . Suspects are to be considered ___8____ and ___9___.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter and if you have any further questions please do not

hesitate to contact our investigating officers.

Exercise 3

Use a verb from the left and a noun phrase from the right, make phrases describing police

activities. You can use the verbs with more than one phrase. Make up sentences of your

own.

Investigate evidence

Conduct identification parade

Collect crime scene examination

Take (to) investigation

Attend police files

Give suspects

Arrange witnesses

Search (for) crimes

Check prints

Interview emergency call

Describe information

Exercise 4

Put in the correct prepositions:

POLICE BUILD PICTURE _1__ ALLEGED TERRORIST WHOSE CHOICE _2__

CAR WAS BASED _3__ SIZE _4__ BOOT

A saleswoman who sold the car used __5_ the Ealing bombing _6_ a suspected member _7__ the

Real IRA cell behind the attack said the man had chosen the vehicle _8__ the biggest boot.

Speaking yesterday as police issued an e-fit _9__ the man believed to have bought the car, the

woman said the man had paid _10__ cash and it had taken only 20 minutes _11__ him first

seeing the car untill he drove away _12__ it.

The five-door grey Saab turbo was bought __13__ the car lot _14__ Ilford, Esseex, _15__ July

19, two weeks before the explosion __16__ Ealing, west London, last week which injured 11

people.

The e-fit shows a white man _17__ his mid-30s, 5ft 10in _18__ 5ft 11in tall and _19__ slim

build. He has straight blond hair and a pitted face which suggests he suffered _20___ acne

__21__ some time. The man has a slightly dimpled chin and speaks _22__ a soft Irish accent.

After buying the car he asked directions _23__ the A46, known _24__ Londoners as the north

circular road, suggesting he was not local.

Re-read the text and translate it into Romanian.

Use all information in the text to fill in the “Police Report” at the end of this unit.

Activity 6 PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY AND INJURIES

Injuries - vocabulary

To receive/sustain injuries

Minor/ serious/ injuries

Slightly injured

Severely injured

Killed

Deaths – fatalities

Casualities

Wounding – to wound

Stab – to stab

Concussion – to concuss

Bruise – bruising

Shotgun wound

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into Romanian:

Two police officers received serious injuries while attemting to quell a disturbance outside a

town centre discotheque.

1) The post mortem examination revealed that death had been caused by a single shotgun

wound to the head.

2) The victim of the assault complained that he had two broken ribs and bruising to his head

and back.

3) The murderer stabbed his victim in the heart with a kitchen knife.

4) No casualities were reported in last week’s accident but the driver was treated for severe

concussion

5) The gunman shot his victim once in the chest.

Activity 7

LISTENING MISSING FATHER AND SON

Before listening

Discuss the following questions with a partner:

1. Why do people go missing?

2. What do you do if you are concerned about a missing person?

3. Are there any specific requirements in reporting a missing person to the

police?

4. Is there a national service or helpline one can apply to when there is a long￾term absence or where there is cause for concern?

5. What problems are associated with finding persons who go missing?

6. Give your own opinions (speculate) as to what may happen to a missing

person.

In such cases, it is common to speculate about where a person may be now or what may have

happened to her.

So we can speculate about the present using

May/might +infinitive

May/might be +….ing ( may be holding; might be keeping her prisoner; might be

working)

Or about the past using

May/might have + past participle

May/might have been + past participle (PASSIVE)

Examples

She/he may be with her/his relatives in countryside.(PRESENT)

Someone may have abducted her/him (PAST) and may be keeping her/him

hostage.

During listening

Make notes while listening to the tape. Write down all important details.

After listening

You have just listened to a police report. Use the notes you have made to answer the

following questions.

1. How old is the missing son?

2. Since when have the pair been missing?

3. What is the prime concern of the police?

4. How tall is Simon ( the father)?

5. What distinctive mark does he have? Where?

6. What was the baby wearing when last seen?

7. What vehicle (s) could the pair be travelling in?

8. Where have the police displayed posters featuring photographs of the pair?

9. What is Simon keen on?

10. What do the police urge the father to do?

Activity 8

Translate the following text into English:

POLIŢIST UCIS CU MITRALIERA LA TIMIŞOARA

Un poliţist a fost ucis cu focuri de mitralieră, iar un altul a fost izbit cu maşina în timp ce

urmăreau un autoturism furat. Este pentru prima oară când hoţii recurg la mitralieră în

confruntarea cu apărătorii legii şi ordinii

Un poliţist din Timişoara a fost ucis cu focuri de mitralieră, în zori zilei de duminică, 4 martie

2001, în timp ce urmăreau o maşină furată. Un alt poliţist implicat în urmărire a fost izbit cu

maşina. Poliţia din Timişoara a primit, sâmbătă noaptea, o sesizare privind furtul unui autoturism

Mercedes de pe o stradă din oraş. Maşina a fost dată în urmărire locală şi a fost identificată, la

puţin timp, de o patrulă mobilă de poliţie, care i-a făcut semn şoferului să oprească. Persoana

aflată la volan a redus iniţial viteza, după care l-a lovit în plin pe unul din subofiţerii de poliţie,

Ioan Mateescu, aruncându-l la doi metri distanţă, pe carosabil.

Celălalt membru al echipajului de poliţie, plutonier major Saşa Disici, a urcat în maşina

personală şi a plecat în urmărirea autoturismului furat. Disici a luat legătura telefonic cu

poliţistul lovit, pe care l-a anunţat că în maşina urmărită se aflau trei persoane care au deschis

focul asupra sa, cu o mitralieră. „ Trag cu o mitralieră. Mă ciuruiesc!”- acestea au fost ultimele

cuvinte ale poliţistului. Mateescu a plecat cu un autoturism în căutarea colegului său, pe care l-a

găsit pe marginea şoselei, împuşcat mortal în piept şi cu pistolul din dotare în mâna stângă.

Poliţiştii timişoreni au realizat portretul robot al uneia din persoanele implicate în uciderea unui

poliţist în timpul exercitării atribuţiilor legale. Poliţiştii susţin că unul dintre agresori este brunet,

cu părul lung, are faţa ovală, nasul lung, ochi mari, negri, şi fruntea îngustă. Ei afirmă că

agresorul are în jur de 30 de ani, aproximativ 1,80m înălţime şi era îmbrăcat cu o geacă maro din

piele.

( „ Monitorul”, 5 martie, 2001)

Activity 9

Try to describe the two persons photographed here.

What are the most important distinguishing features for each?

Activity 10

Identify and correct the mistakes in each sentence

1. He is long brown hair.

2. She has a freshly complexion.

3. He is average high.

4. She has dark brown dye hair.

5. He is blue eyes.

6. He is a tattoo on his right forearm.

7. The suspect was casual dressed.

8. He is known to associate with drug addictions.

9. The suspect uses heavy make-ups.

10. He is a white european.

Border police and other law enforcement officers have special training to enable

them to spot imposters! Can you identify from the two photographs if it is the

same man?

POLICE REPORT

1. Person reporting:

Address: Age Sex

Complainant:

Address:

Incident as Reported

Reported To: Time& Date

2.Where Committed Name of premises

House No. Street

District or Town

3.When committed

Time

(24hrs)

Day Date Month Year No.of

witnesses

At/ Between

and

If M/Vehicle Used

Show Reg. No. (or Part)

Description of Suspect/Offender

Dress Smart Casual Sporting Scruffy Vagrant

Marks Tattoos Scar Deformity Other

identifying

marks

Enter Appropriate Code in Box Below

Heigh

t

Build Ethnic

origin

Hair

colour

Accent Age

group

Age

Range

1 under

1.60m

1 fat 1 White

European

1 balck 1 local 1 school

age

1 under

12yrs

2 1.60-

1.75m

2 heavy 2 Dark

European

2 brown 2 north 2 young 2 12-13yrs

3 over

1.75m

3 medium 3 Asian 3 ginger 3 south 3 middle

age

3 14-16yrs

4 4 slim 4 Oriental 4 blonde 4 Scots 4 old 4 17-20yrs

5 5 thin 5 Arabian 5 white 5 Welsh 5 5 21-29yrs

6 6 6 6 grey 6 Irish 6 6 30-39yrs

7 7 7 7 bald 7 foreign 7 7 40-49yrs

8 8 8 8 dyed 8 8 8 50-59yrs

9 un￾known

9 un￾known

9 unknown 9 un￾known

9 unknown 9 9 60yrs&

over

Offender/Suspect Name&Address Reported Suspected Wanted

Sex DOB

C.R.O.No.

Complainant requests no publicity (Tick)

Officer in Case ………………………..

Officers Attending Scene (Officers Time and Date of Arrival ) Section Officer

Reporting Officer Plain Clothes

C.I.D. Crime &Vandalism Squad

Crime Prevention Other Supervising Officer

Others

Witnesses: (Name, address- nature of evidence)

Report of Investigating Officer: I have made enquiries as follows:

SCENE VICINITY OF SCENE

Searched Local residents

Fingerprint examination Tradesmen

result awaited

Occupants interviewed Passers by

Visitors Suspected persons

Relations Suspected vehicles

Employees Unusual telephone

Tradesmen calls

Others

SEARCH OF AREA FOR

Route taken by offender Abandoned property

Instrument Abandoned vehicles

ENQUIRIES TO TRACE SUSPECTS

Places of entertainment Hospitals/surgeries

Licensed premises Places of refreshment

Hotels/hostels Gipsy encampments

Observations to be kept Periodic visits

Photographs shown Photo-fit shown

Informants

Liaison

C.R.O.

Crime Int.

P.N.C.

Date Officer Rank & No.

UNIT 2 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Activity 1 Discussion

1. Why do we have rules and laws? Why do people follow them? Why do people break them?

2. Is ignorance of the law an excuse? Why (not)?

3. A policeman on duty kills a criminal while defending a victim? Has the officer committed any

crime?

4. What is crime? Take two minutes to write a possible definition for crime.

5. There is more crime than there used to be. Do you agree? Why (not)?

6. You are innocent until proven guilty! Why do you think miscarriages of justice still occur?

7. Where can you find the following signs? What do they tell you?

Activity 2

What effects do you imagine the following have had on crime?

1. the invention of gunpowder

2. the creation of police

3. street lighting

4. employment in factories

5. the payment of police

6. war

7. the discovery of fingerprints

8. cars

9. the colour of man’s skin/religion

10. the welfare state

Activity 3

Look at the “spidergram” below and say what effect each of these factors has on the crime rate

and why.

WARNING

NO DUMPING

ALLOWED

Perpetrators will be

prosecuted

ZONE

CRIME RATE

Severity of

punishment

Individual

morality

Alcoholism/drugs

Social values

Poverty

Police/other

prevention

NO

TRESPASSING 30

$500 FINE