Peter James: Dead at First Sight

HOLMES— Home Office Large Major Enquiry System. The national computer database used on all murders. It provides a repository of all messages, actions, decisions and statements, allowing the analysis of intelligence and the tracking and auditing of the whole enquiry. Can enable enquiries to be linked across force areas where necessary.

IC1— White — North European.

IC3— Black.

IFA —Independent Financial Advisor.

IMEI code —A fifteen-digit number used by a mobile network to identify valid devices and therefore can be used for stopping a stolen phone from accessing that network or to trace phones used with any SIM card.

LST— Local Support Team. The standing unit of officers who provide public order, search and low-level surveillance tactics on a division.

MO— Modus Operandi (method of operation). The manner by which the offender has committed the offence. Often this can reveal unique features which allow crimes to be linked or suspects to be identified.

NaCTSO— National Counter Terrorism Security Office. A national police unit that leads the fight against terrorism.

NPAS 15— The call sign for the helicopter that provides air support to Sussex Police.

NPT —Neighbourhood Policing Team. A team of officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who are dedicated to a particular geographical area, primarily to reduce crime and improve people’s feelings of safety.

OSCAR-1— The call sign of the Force Control Duty Inspector, who has oversight and command of all critical incidents in the initial stages.

PM— Postmortem.

Priest— A tool or implement for killing game or fish.

QR Code— A form of barcode which, when scanned, diverts the reading device being used to a website.

RPU— Roads Policing Unit. The name for the Traffic Division.

RTC— Road Traffic Collision (commonly known as an ‘accident’ by the public, but this term is not used as it implies no one is at fault when usually someone is).

RV Point— Rendezvous Point. The designated location where emergency services meet prior to deploying to the scene of a crime or major incident. Used when it would be too dangerous or unwieldy for everyone to arrive at the scene at the same time in an uncoordinated way.

SECAMB— South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Section 17 PACE Powers— A power of entry under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which allows officers to enter premises without a warrant to make an arrest, to save life or limb, or to prevent serious damage to property.

SIO— Senior Investigating Officer. Usually a Detective Chief Inspector who is in overall charge of the investigation of a major crime such as murder, kidnap or rape.

All-ports alert— A nationwide alert for all air and seaports to be on the lookout for a particular person, vehicle etc.

Bosher— The heavy metal handheld ram used to force open doors and allow officers to enter a locked premises or room swiftly and with the advantage of surprise.

Burner phone— Slang for a pay-as-you-go mobile phone, which is used once then disposed of to avoid the user being traced.

Golden hour— The first hour after a crime has been committed or reported, when the best chances of seizing evidence and/or identifying witnesses exist.

Q word/Q day— Short for ‘quiet’. Emergency services personnel never say the word ‘quiet’, as it invariably is a bad omen, causing chaos to reign!

Police ranks are consistent across all disciplines and the addition of prefixes such as ‘detective’ (e.g. detective constable) does not affect seniority relative to others of the same rank (e.g. police constable).