Police Jargon

[Maydup]

A PCO came into work today asking if I'd seen an IC3 male. She wanted to check the CCTV for her EG.

Could I help her?

Was I supposed to understand that? I made her explain it to me without the acronyms but she struggled! Why can't the police have a plain English Policy, or do they like being inaccessible to the average person? makes me really cross.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes I agree - use them between themselves by all means for speed and clarity but speak to the public in understandable terms.

[furrypusscat]

Perhaps this explains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_codes

[Ken4155]

"Excuse me, sir, seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C., he could end up M.I.A. and then we'd all be put out in K.P." Good Morning Vietnam:-)

[Mamyalynne]

I'm very surprised she couldn't spell it out to you in straight language.

[furrypusscat]

Could it be down to political correctness, you can't say black or similar words so a code becomes necessary to avoid any issues.

[Tilly2]

cctv is closed circuit television.....I know that much.....what's EG?

[furrypusscat]

Evidence Gathering ?

[shoota]

Echo Golf....

Don't you know....?

Me neither......;-)

[Dizmo]

I must be sad because when I report someone to the police I use police codes and the phonetic alphabet.

[Baldric]

So, just how often do you report people to the Police then?

[Dizmo]

I've only reported one person this year so far and that was 2 days ago.

[Dizmo]

It's rather handy if you're not very far away from the person. For example if you saw someone with a firearm you could ring the police and ask for SO19 and request a TFU. I don't think it's right that the police should just expect everyone to know this stuff though. Baldric I bet you know all the abbreviates for when you on active duty (sorry I can't remember which forces you were in, my apologies).

[retrocop]

IC3 is a Black person in the police code of suspect description. Used to be RC3 for Race Code. ID now stands for Identity Code. Different races/colours are catergorised much like the tiresome NHS appointment forms that one is asked to fill in. IC is white. IC4 is asian indian or Pakistani if my memory serves. The pretend police officer should not have used police jargon to a member of the public but what else can they say / ask. "Was the man who mugged you coloured,black,brown,ethnic. Whatever is said in this day and age there will always be someone who will be offended.



h like the tiresome NHS appointment k

[Dizmo]

I'm not bailing on you lot but I've got to go. SIL just walked out of her job and is in a right mess - her depression is back, well talk about today being a 'talk about mental health' day. Toodles.

[PankySmooch]

Is there a police code for Gypsies?

Everytime they attend a theft from my workplace they say it's probably those 'effing pikeys again'

[shoota]

or even an ARV.....

[retrocop]

I suppose she wanted to make herself appear like a REAL police officer and sound like one. Difference is a REAL police officer would have used non police terms to a member of the public in order to investigate (EG) a wrong doing.