Law enforcement

assault (n)

a physical attack on someone

badge (n)

symbol or emblem worn on a police uniform or carried by detectives to show they are policemen

baton (n)

a short stick carried by a policeman and used as a weapon

book (v)

to charge someone with an offence

briefing (n)

a meeting where officers receive information and updates

bullet-proof (adj)

can stop or is resist bullets, e.g. bullet-proof glass

civilian (n)

a person who does not work in law enforcement or for the military

custody (n)

when you are detained in a cell by police, they hold you in custody

customs (n)

government department that collects taxes on imports and prevents illegal imports

defuse (v)

to make a bomb safe so that it cannot explode

enforce (v)

to make people obey something

escort (v)

to go with or accompany someone somewhere

fight (n)

an argument or dispute when people attack each other physically

gun (n)

a weapon that fires bullets

handcuffs (n)

a pair of metal rings locked around someone’s wrists to restrain them

hostage (n)

someone who is held as a prisoner by a person or group until they receive money or meet specific demands

illegal (adj)

against the law

injury (n)

physical damage to the body

investigate (v)

to carry out an official enquiry to find out something about someone

kidnapping (n)

to abduct or take someone by force and hold them prisoner

kit (n)

special clothing and equipment

monitor (v)

to check something regularly

offender (n)

person who breaks a law

partner (n)

person you work with closely, usually as a pair

patrol (n)

a regular tour (on foot or by car) made by a law enforcement officer

police (v)

to make sure that law and order are maintained

promotion (n)

a move to a more senior rank or position

protect (v)

to keep safe

rank (n)

an official title in law enforcement and the military that shows your position e.g. constable, sergeant, superintendent

ransom (n)

the money that kidnappers ask for (or that is paid) to release someone that they have kidnapped

report to (v)

to be under someone’s authority

rescue (n)

saving someone from harm or from a dangerous situation

rota (n)

a list of people’s names that gives the order in which they should carry out their duties

shift (n)

a period of working time over a 24- hour period, e.g. day shift, night shift

statement (n)

an account of the facts relating to a crime or case

taser (n)

a non-lethal weapon that transmits electronic pulses used to incapacitate someone

terrorism (n)

violence, or the threat of violence carried out for political purposes

uniform (n)

clothes that show someone’s occupation e.g. law enforcement officer, nurse, soldier

unit (n)

a group of people with a specific function

(traffic) accident (n)

collision involving a motor vehicle that results in damage, personal injury or death

bonnet (n)

the cover over the engine of a vehicle (US = hood)

boot (n)

the luggage compartment of a vehicle (usually at the back of the vehicle) (US = trunk)

category (n)

division or set of things or people with common characteristics that are classified together

child seat (n)

small, detachable seat used for children that is placed on a normal car seat

coach (n)

long-distance bus

compulsory (adj)

necessary, required by law

control (n)

the place where law enforcement officials deal with phone calls and radio messages

cracked (adj)

usually of glass (or other hard substance) which has been broken, but which is still intact (in one piece)

driving licence (n)

a document to prove that a person has passed a test that shows they can drive safely

exceed (v)

to go over or beyond something

expiry (n)

time or date when something is no longer valid

fine (n)

sum of money paid as a punishment for breaking a law

flat (adj)

no longer filled with air

fog lights (n)

strong front/rear lights on a vehicle with a beam that can penetrate fog

headlights (n)

atrong, powerful lights on the front of a vehicle

heavy (adj)

weighing a lot

helmet (n)

hard, protective hat

indicator (lights) (n)

lights that a vehicle driver uses to signal they are turning or moving left or right

insurance (n)

financial protection offered to a customer by a company against loss, damage, etc in return for a payment premium

lorry (n)

a large vehicle that transports goods by road – also called a truck

make (n)

a brand of something, e.g. Rolls Royce, BMW, Lexus

mirror (n)

highly reflective surface of glass that gives back a clear image

offence (n)

crime

out-of-date (adj)

not current

overload (v)

to put too heavy a load on something

overtake (v)

to pass a vehicle driving in the same direction

penalty (n)

official punishment for an offence or crime

penalty points (n)

In the UK, if you are convicted of a motoring offence, your driving licence will get a number of penalty points set against it. (The number depends on how severe the offence is). If you have more than 12 penalty points within a 3-year period, you will be disqualified from driving

petrol (n)

liquid fuel for cars (US = gas)

registration plate (n)

the signs on the front and rear of vehicles showing a unique identification number (also known as number plates, licence plates)

regulations (n)

official rules which say what may or may not be done

right-hand (adj)

on the right

road sign (n)

sign by the side of the road that gives instructions or directions

seat belt (n)

long, strong strap that sits across a vehicle driver’s / passenger’s body to keep them securely in their seat

signature (n)

your name, written by hand, on official documents, at the end of letters, on cheques, etc.

slow down (v)

to reduce speed when driving

speeding (n)

the offence of driving a vehicle over the prescribed speed limit

speed limit (n)

the maximum speed at which you may drive

steering wheel (n)

a wheel in a vehicle that is used to move it in a specific direction

tyre (n)

rubber edge for a wheel on a vehicle that is filled with compressed air (US = tire)

valid (adj)

can be legally used

vehicle (n)

means of land transport (usually with wheels) for people or goods, e.g. car, truck

windscreen (n)

the large glass or plastic screen that forms the front window of a motor vehicle (US = windshield)

abandon (v)

to leave something behind for others to deal with

agency (n)

administrative division of a government organization

anti-social behaviour (n)

any activity that affects members of the community in a negative way

arms (n)

weapons

arrest (v)

to take someone into custody

beat (n)

the route or area a police officer usually covers when working

beggar (n)

a person in the street who asks strangers for money

cattle-rustling (n)

to steal someone’s cows CCTV closed-circuit television

cell (n)

room for holding a prisoner or someone who has been arrested

community (n)

group of people who all live in the same area

community policing (n)

policing that integrates officers into the local community to reduce crime and to establish good relations with residents

confiscate (v)

to take something away with authority

crack down on (v)

to act more forcefully

crime prevention (n)

trying to stop crime from happening

criminal (n)

a person who has committed a crime

deal drugs (v)

to buy and sell drugs in order to make money

deal with (v)

to take action to solve a problem or to help someone