Dead if You Don’t

Slang and Phrases

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.

HOT Principle — An acronym to assist in assessing whether a suspect package is likely to be an explosive device:

Hidden: Is it obviously hidden? Has someone deliberately tried to conceal it?

Obvious: Is it obviously out of place and out of context for its environment? Are there any wires, switches, batteries or components visible?

Typical: Is it typical of an item usually seen in the environment?

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!