AWOL: Absent WithOut Leave

CCTV: Closed Circuit Television

COMMS: Communications

CROPS: Covert Rural Observation Posts

HUMINT: Human Intelligence

IPA: International Police Association

MIT: Major Investigation Team

OPPO: Colleague or friend

OSD: Operational Support Division

PNC: Police National Computer

PPU: Public Protection Unit

SFO: Specialist Firearms Officer

SK: Station Keeper

Holy Corner: junction in Liverpool’s pedestrianised

centre where Lord Street, Church Street,

Paradise Street and Whitechapel all meet.

Matrix: Police unit specialising in overt/covert disruption

of organised crime

Signalling stick: Wooden ‘stick’ approx 3ft (90cm)

with flat metal tip. Traditionally used in many City Forces,

pre-use of radios, to tap on pavement signalling to the

‘Beat Officers’ that their Supervisor required to meet them

at the source of the tapping.

The Met: Metropolitan Police

West Mids: West Midlands Police