Police officers and firearms

Police officers in GB do not normally carry firearms. Uniformed officers may carry wooden truncheons to help protect themselves against violence.

Firearms may be issued only to specially trained police officers, known as Authorized Firearms Officers, and then only on the authority of a senior officer. Authority is given when an officer is likely to face an armed criminal or is deployed to protect a person who may be at risk of attack.

Officers may fire weapons only as a last resort if they believe that their own or other lives are in danger. Each officer In personally responsible for the decision to fire and may he required to justify this action before the courts.

Tasks and exercises

1. Restore the situations round the following words and expressions:

1) to carry firearms;

2) wooden truncheons;

3) the authority of a senior officer;

4) at risk of attack;

5) as a last resort;

6) to justify one's action before the court.

2. Complete the sentences:

1) Officers may fire if...

2) Authority to use firearms is given when...

3) If an officer is likely to face an armed criminal...

4) Specially trained police officers are called...

5) Uniformed officers may carry...

3. Read and retell the text:

Power of search

The 1984 Act empowers the police to stop and search any person or vehicle found in a public place for stolen or prohibited atticles and to detain a person or vehicle for such a search.

If out of uniform, the police officer must produce evidence ofhis status. He must always give his grounds for the search if asked.

Under the Theft Act 1968, for example, police may obtain a warrant to search for stolen goods when there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are in someone's possession or on his promises.

Under certain circumstances the police are given powers of search without any warrant. It concerns such cases as the Misuse ui Daigs and Prevention of Terrorism.

A constable in uniform may stop and search any person for Ihe purpose of seeing whether that person is carrying an nl tensive weapon or an instrument that has a blade or a sharp point.

Failure to stop is a summary offence punishable by our
month's imprisonment and/or a fine.

The police also have a general power, when arresting
someone for an arrestable offence, to enter and search any place
in which the suspect is believed to be.

4. Read the text below and define:

What was wrong in the actions of the policemen?
When discussing the problem use the phrases:

He should... He sought to...

Ted, a local policemen, had a wonderful suit on. He wh®
coming back home after the party. Suddenly he noticed a limit
who was carrying a sack. The man looked around as if he was
doing something unlawful. Ted came up to him and pul his
hand on the man's shoulder. Without any explanations he seized
the sack and looked into it.

There he found potatoes. The man explained that he was
carrying this sack of potatoes to his brother. The potatoes were
his own and he had gathered them on his own land-plot.
5. Read the dialogue and act it out:
Policemen: I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you
don't mind.

Sam: About what?

Policemen: About the murder that someone committed
next door two nights ago. Did you hear
anything unusual that night?
Sam: I heard nothing at all!
Policemen: Did you see anything out ofthe ordinary?
Sam: No, I saw nothing, officer.
Policemen: Someone fired six shots with a revolver, but
you heard nothing... A man ran through
that door five minutes after the crime, but
you saw nothing.... It all sounds very

suspicious to me, sir. Have you anything to
add?

Sam: Nothing at all.

Policemen: But you won't get away with it.
Sam: Why do you try to intimidate me?
Policemen: We shall proceed with our enquiries.

6. Define whether the policeman intimidated Sam. Prove

your point of view.

Unit 73
THE FEDERAL BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION

The FBI is considered by many to be the finest investigative
hody in the world. American policemen hold it in such esteem
that it is often referred to as «The Bureau». The FBI is respon-
sible for the investigation of all the federal cases not assigned

to other agencies and for violations committed on the
Govcrnment property and Indian reservations.

Thefts of government property are also investigated by the
FBI. In addition the FBI's jurisdiction includes matters of
inirmal security (espionage, sabotage, treason); bank robbery;
kidnapping; extortion; interstate transportation of stolen autos,
aircraft, cattle, or property; violation of election law; civil rights
violation; and assaulting or killing a Federal officer or the
President of the United States.

The FBI also operates a national crime laboratory for its use
and publishes the monthly Law Enforcement Bulletin.

The FBI collects crime statistics and publishes them, and
maintains a central fingerprint repository. The Bureau engages
In the training of local police officers through the National

Academy and through schools conducted by traveling teams <>l agents. FBI agents often possess law degrees.

(Boop W. and Schultz I > Principles of American Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. — USA, 1972).

Tasks and exercises

1. Give the words of the same root from the basic text:

investigation; estimation; spy; assignment; to violatr, thief; to export; month; to force; finger; state.

2. Complete the word combinations:

the investigative...; crime...; the federal...; fingerprint...; Indian...; law.... internal...; stolen...; bank...;

3. Insert the propositions, if necessary:

1) American policemen hold the FBI... great esteem.

2) The FBI is often referred... as «The Bureau».

3) Some violations were committed... government property.

4)... addition the FBI's jurisdiction includes matters of internal security.

5) The FBI also operates a national crime laboratory, its use.

4. Complete the sentences:

1) The FBI is considered...

2) The FBI is often referred to...

3) The FBI is responsible for...

4) Thefts of government property are investigated

5) The FBI jurisdiction includes...

6) The FBI operates...

The FBI collects...

5. Cross out the wrong statements:

1) All kinds of theft are investigated by the FBI.

2) Crimes in Indian reservations are investigated by the
local police stations.

3) The FBI's jurisdiction includes matters of espionage
and treason.

4) The FBI investigates the cases of interstate transport-
ation of stolen autos.

5) The FBI publishes the annual Law Enforcement
Bulletin.

6) The FBI maintains a central fingerprint repository.

7) All FBI agents possess law degrees.

6. Answer the questions:

1) Do you believe that the FBI is the finest investigative
body in the world? Give some facts to refute or
support the idea.

2) What matters is the FBI empowered to investigate?

3) How are the FBI agents trained?

7. Tell about the FBI. Find some interesting facts of
its efficient or inefficient work.

 

 

Unit 74

BAIL

Most accused people are released on bail pending trial. They me not remanded in custody except where strictly necessary. Unconditional bail may be withheld only if the court has nlislantial grounds for believing that accused would abscond, Minimit an offence, interfere with witnesses, or otherwise obstruct the course of justice.

A court may also impose conditions before granting bail. If I mi I is refused, the defendant may apply to a High Court judge in in the Crown Court for bail.

In some cases a court may grant bail to a defendant on condition that he or she lives in an approved bail hostel.

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 gives the police powers of immediate arrest for breach of police bail ami removes the presumption in favour of bail for people alleged to have offended while on bail. It also restricts the right to bail lor someone charged with murder, manslaughter or rape if previously convicted of the same offence.

Tasks and exercises

1. Read the expressions, translate them and make up sentences of you own:

Bail — to release on bail; unconditional bail;
to refuse bail; to apply for bail;
to grant bail; approved bail house;
to appose bail; police bail; presumption
in favour of bail; to offend while on bail,
right to bail.

2. Insert the prepositions, if necessary:

1) Most accused people are released... bail.

2) These people are not remanded... custody.

3) The accused was not going to interfere... witnessed

4) The defendant may apply to the Crown Court...
bail.

5) Was Sam charged... murder?

6) Nick was convicted... manslaughter.

3. Complete the sentences:

1) A court may impose conditions before...

2) If the bail is refused, the defendant may apply...

3) The police have powers of immediate arrest...

4) This Act 1994 restricts the right to bail for...

5) A court may grant bail to a defendant on a condi-
tion...

4. React to the statements (agree or disagree):

1) The accused may be released on bail only in exceptional cases.

2) If the court believes that the accused may abscond the bail may be withheld.

3) The defendant may apply to Queen if the bail is refused.

4) Courts grant bail only if the accused lives in an approved bail hostel.

5) The right to bail is restricted if the accused is charged with theft.

5. Read the dialogue and act it out with your partner. Be ready to restore the situation of communication:

B.: You are the lawyer my old man hired?

V.: That's right. My name's Vernon Wedge.

B.: When do I get out of here?

V.: You don't, not until the trial. They've refused bail.

B.: When's the trial?

V.: Don't rush it. We need every minute of delay. We can get. Don't think this is going to be easy.

(Based on the story «Thicker than Water» by H.Slezar).

6. Answer the questions on the dialogue (task 5):

1) What can you say about the profession of Vernon?

2) Was Vernon ready for the trial?

3) Did Benjy have a chance to get out of prison before the trial?

4) Why did they need a delay?

7. Now read the second part of their conversation:

V.: Why do you carry a knife, Benjy?

B.: It's no switchblade, Mr. Wedge. It's more like a boyscout knife. I mean, they sell'em all over. I use it for whittlin' and stuff like that.

V.: Whittling?

B.: Look, whose side are you on. I didn't Kenny, Somebody else did. I swear I didn't kill him!

V.: Take it easy. I'm not making accusations, kid, that's the court's job. Now sit back and relax.

(Based on the story «Thicker than Water» by H.Slezar).

8. Answer the questions on the second part of the dialogue (task 7):

1) Do you believe Benjy? Why?

2) Does Vernon believe that Benjy did not knife the boy?

 

Unit 75