Find Them Dead

Glossary

ANPR — Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Roadside or mobile cameras that automatically capture the registration number of all cars that pass. It can be used to historically track which cars went past a certain camera, and can also create a signal for cars which are stolen, have no insurance or have an alert attached to them.

CID — Criminal Investigation Department. Usually refers to the divisional detectives rather than the specialist squads.

CPS — Crown Prosecution Service.

CSI — Was SOCO. Crime Scene Investigators (Scenes of Crime Officers). They are the people who attend crime scenes to search for fingerprints, DNA samples etc.

CSM — Crime Scene Manager.

DIGITAL FORENSICS — The unit which examines and investigates computers and other digital devices.

FLO — Family Liaison Officer.

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.

IOPC — Independent Office for Police Conduct.

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.

POLSA — Police Search Adviser.

RSOCU — Regional Serious & Organized Crime Unit.

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.