Key Legal Terms Every Police Station Representative Needs to Know

This page collects the legal terms and abbreviations used across your PSRAS training. It is a quick-reference starting point — each term is explored in depth in the relevant module. Use it to orientate yourself before you begin, and return to it whenever you need a reminder.

Procedural Terms

Arrest

A deprivation of liberty. Under PACE s.24, a constable may arrest without warrant where there are reasonable grounds to suspect involvement in an offence and it is necessary to arrest (Code G necessity criteria). The necessity test is a legal requirement, not a formality.

At the station: Check that the arrest was both based on reasonable suspicion and necessary. An unlawful arrest undermines the legality of detention and everything that follows.

Police Detention

Being held at a police station following arrest, as defined by PACE s.118. The custody clock starts from the moment of arrival at the station. Rights and duties attach immediately on detention being authorised.

At the station: Note the time detention was authorised. Calculate the clock. Know the review times and extension thresholds.

Voluntary Attendance

Attending the police station without being under arrest. The person is free to leave at any time unless and until arrested. The PACE safeguards for interviewed suspects still apply.

At the station: Advise your client of their right to leave. Consider whether attendance should continue or whether the client should leave and allow a formal arrest if the police wish to proceed.

Bail

Release from custody subject to a duty to return, either to the police station or to court. Bail may be unconditional or conditional. Pre-charge bail conditions must be proportionate and necessary.

At the station: Making representations on bail is a core police station skill. Understand the grounds for refusing bail and challenge conditions that are disproportionate.

UFN (Unique File Number)

The Criminal Defence Services reference number assigned to every legally aided case. Generated by the DSCC or the firm’s case management system at the start of the matter.

At the station: Record the UFN at the outset of every legal aid case. It is required for billing and for your portfolio record. Do not leave the station without it.

Evidence and Threshold Terms

Reasonable Suspicion

An objective standard based on facts and information available to the officer at the time. More than a hunch but does not require certainty or even a prima facie case.

At the station: Assess whether reasonable suspicion actually existed. If it did not, the arrest was unlawful and any evidence obtained may be challenged under PACE s.78.

Reasonable Force

Force that is proportionate and necessary in the circumstances. Relevant to the lawfulness of an arrest, to self-defence, and to the conduct of officers during detention.

At the station: If your client has been physically restrained, document any injuries and consider whether the force used was within lawful limits.

Burden of Proof

The obligation to prove a matter. The prosecution bears the legal burden of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

At the station: The burden is on the prosecution. Your client does not have to prove innocence. This shapes advice on whether to answer questions in interview.

Standard of Proof

The level of certainty required. The prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Where the defence bears a legal burden, it is discharged on the balance of probabilities.

At the station: Understanding the standard helps you assess the prosecution case and advise on interview strategy realistically.

Elements of an Offence

Actus Reus

The physical element of an offence: the guilty act, omission, or state of affairs required by the definition of the crime.

At the station: Identify what physical act the prosecution will allege. Is there evidence your client did it? Are there identification issues or alibi points to explore?

Mens Rea

The mental element of an offence: the guilty mind required by the definition of the crime. Different offences require different mental states.

At the station: Consider what mental state the prosecution must prove and whether the facts support it. Honest mistakes and genuine misunderstandings can negate mens rea.

Specific Mental States

Intentionally

The defendant aimed to bring about the result, or foresaw it as a virtually certain consequence of their actions (R v Woollin [1999] AC 82).

At the station: Relevant to murder, s.18 GBH, and theft. A client who did not aim for the outcome and could not foresee it as virtually certain may lack intention.

Recklessly

Awareness of an unjustified risk and unreasonably taking it (R v G [2003] UKHL 50). A subjective test: the defendant must have recognised the risk.

At the station: Relevant to criminal damage, s.20 GBH, some sexual offences. A client who genuinely did not see the risk may lack the required state of mind.

Maliciously

A statutory term meaning intentionally or recklessly (R v Cunningham [1957] 2 QB 396). Appears in OAPA offences including s.20 GBH. Does not require ill-will.

At the station: If the charge is s.20, the prosecution must prove the defendant foresaw some harm, even if not the extent of harm that resulted.

Knowing or Believing

Knowing means certainty. Believing means more than mere suspicion but less than certainty. The distinction matters for handling stolen goods and drug supply offences.

At the station: A client who merely suspected goods were stolen, without believing it, may not satisfy the mental element of handling.

Dishonesty

Following Ivey v Genting Casinos [2017] UKSC 67, assessed objectively: what would ordinary, decent people consider dishonest given what the defendant knew?

At the station: Relevant to theft, fraud, handling, and any dishonesty offence. Understand the client’s subjective state of mind before advising on interview.

Abbreviations & Glossary

Abbreviations used throughout the PSRAS course and in police station practice.

A (6 Entries)

AA — Appropriate Adult
ABH — Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (s.47 OAPA 1861)
ACPO — Association of Chief Police Officers (now NPCC)
AO — Assessment Organisation
AR — Actus Reus
ARC — Appropriate Adult Referral Centre

B (3 Entries)

BA 1976 — Bail Act 1976
BRP — Biometric Residence Permit
BWV — Body-Worn Video

C (14 Entries)

CA 1989 — Children Act 1989
CCA 2013 — Crime and Courts Act 2013
CCMS — Client and Cost Management System
CDA 1998 — Crime and Disorder Act 1998
CDD — Criminal Defence Direct
CID — Criminal Investigation Department
CIT — Critical Incidents Test (PSRAS assessment)
CJA 2003 — Criminal Justice Act 2003
CJPOA 1994 — Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
CLAS — Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
Code C — PACE Code of Practice C
Code G — PACE Code of Practice G
CPIA 1996 — Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
CPS — Crown Prosecution Service

D (8 Entries)

DA 2005 — Drugs Act 2005
DAA 2021 — Domestic Abuse Act 2021
DBS — Disclosure and Barring Service
DPA — Data Protection Act
DPP — Director of Public Prosecutions
DSCC — Defence Solicitor Call Centre
DVPN — Domestic Violence Protection Notice
DVPO — Domestic Violence Protection Order

E (3 Entries)

EA 2003 — Extradition Act 2003
ECHR — European Convention on Human Rights
ECtHR — European Court of Human Rights

F (2 Entries)

FACT — First Attendance Court Trial
FCA — Financial Conduct Authority

G (1 Entry)

GBH — Grievous Bodily Harm (s.18 or s.20 OAPA 1861)

H (4 Entries)

HMCPSI — HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
HMICFRS — HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services
HMRC — HM Revenue and Customs
HRA 1998 — Human Rights Act 1998

I (3 Entries)

IA 1971 — Immigration Act 1971
IO — Investigating Officer
IOPC — Independent Office for Police Conduct

L (3 Entries)

LA — Legal Aid
LAA — Legal Aid Agency
LASPO — Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

M (6 Entries)

MCA 1980 — Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
MCQ — Multiple Choice Question
MDA 1971 — Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
MHA 1983 — Mental Health Act 1983
MoJ — Ministry of Justice
MR — Mens Rea

N (4 Entries)

NAAN — National Appropriate Adult Network
NCA — National Crime Agency
NFA — No Further Action
NPCC — National Police Chiefs’ Council

O (2 Entries)

OAPA 1861 — Offences Against the Person Act 1861
OOCD — Out of Court Disposal

P (8 Entries)

PACE — Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
PCA 2017 — Policing and Crime Act 2017
PDS — Public Defender Service
POCA 2002 — Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
PSQ — Police Station Qualification
PSR — Police Station Representative
PSRAS — Police Station Representatives Accreditation Scheme
PWITS — Possession with Intent to Supply

R (4 Entries)

RIPA 2000 — Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
ROA 1974 — Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
RTA 1988 — Road Traffic Act 1988
RUI — Released Under Investigation

S (5 Entries)

SA 2020 — Sentencing Act 2020
SCC — Standard Crime Contract
SIO — Senior Investigating Officer
SOA 2003 — Sexual Offences Act 2003
SRA — Solicitors Regulation Authority

T (3 Entries)

TA 2000 — Terrorism Act 2000
TIC — Taken Into Consideration
TWOC — Taking a Conveyance Without Authority (s.12 Theft Act 1968)

U (3 Entries)

UFN — Unique File Number
UK GDPR — UK General Data Protection Regulation
UKVI — UK Visas and Immigration

V (1 Entry)

VIPER — Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording

Y (2 Entries)

YJB — Youth Justice Board
YOT — Youth Offending Team

✅ REMEMBER
The three detention statuses: (1) Police Detention — held at the station following arrest; custody clock starts on arrival. (2) Voluntary Attendance — free to leave at any time unless arrested; PACE interview safeguards still apply. (3) Bail — release subject to a duty to return; conditions must be proportionate and necessary. Always identify which status applies.

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Each term is explored in depth in the relevant modules. This is your quick-reference starting point.

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