Police Service and Legal Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of English vocabulary terms and their definitions/meanings based on the provided police service, legal, and traffic terminology notes.

baton / truncheon

Schlagstock (equipment used by police officers).

chief constable

The title for the police lead in Great Britain (GB: PP).

CID

Criminal Investigation Department (Kripo).

Department of the Interior

The US equivalent of the UK Home Office (Innenministerium).

perpetrator

Der Täter (the person who committed the crime).

on the beat

To be patrolling a specific area (auf Streife sein).

date of expiry

Ablaufdatum (the date a document like a passport is no longer valid).

previous convictions

Vorstrafen (a record of past crimes committed by an individual).

actual bodily harm (ABH)

Einfache Körperverletzung.

arson

Brandstiftung (intentionally setting fire to property).

bail

Kaution or Sicherheitsleistung (money paid for the release of an accused person awaiting trial).

blackmail

Erpressung (to obtain something by threat or intimidation).

bilking

Zechprellerei (leaving without paying for a service or meal).

brawl

Schlägerei (a noisy fight in a public place).

burglary

Einbruch (illegally entering a building to commit a crime).

embezzlement

Unterschlagung (theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust).

extortion

Erpressung (to obtain something specifically by force).

grievous bodily harm (GBH)

Schwere Körperverletzung.

handling stolen goods

Hehlerei (dealing with property known to be stolen).

manslaughter

Totschlag (the crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought).

money laundering

Geldwäsche (concealing the origins of illegally obtained money).

no fixed abode

Ohne festen Wohnsitz (having no permanent home address).

penalty notice

Bußgeldbescheid (an official notification of a fine for an administrative offence).

public prosecutor

Staatsanwalt (the legal representative of the state in criminal proceedings).

search warrant

Durchsuchungsbeschluss (a legal document authorizing police to search a premises).

to acquit

Freisprechen (to find someone not guilty of a charge).

to catch someone red-handed

Auf frischer Tat ertappen.

to plead guilty

Sich schuldig bekennen.

bonnet / hood

Motorhaube (the cover over the engine of a vehicle).

boot / trunk

Koffraum (the storage compartment of a vehicle).

dual carriageway

Schnellstraße mit Mittelstreifen.

hard shoulder

Befestigter Seitenstreifen (the emergency lane on a motorway).

indicator

Blinker (the light used to signal a turn).

revocation of the driving licence

Führerscheinentzug.

slip road / ramp

Rampe der Autobahnauffahrt bzw. -ausfahrt.

blood alcohol concentration

Blutalkoholwert.

skid marks

Bremsspuren (marks left on the road by tires when brakes are applied suddenly).

write-off

Totalschaden (a vehicle so damaged it is not worth repairing).

retaliation

Vergeltung or Gegenschlag.

domestic violence

Häusliche Gewalt (violence or abuse within a home or relationship).

raid

Razzia (a sudden police action to find illegal goods or people).

drug enforcement unit

Drogenfahndung.

withdrawal symptom

Entzugsercheinung (physical or mental effects after stopping drug use).