TFU — Tactical Firearms Unit. The small, permanently armed department of the police that responds to firearms incidents. They often deploy in ARVs (see above), and also have other specialist capabilities.
TPAC — Tactical Pursuit And Containment. Describes a range of methods for managing and terminating police pursuits, including boxing the target vehicle in using police cars and, where necessary, causing it to stop by use of controlled collision.
Slang and phrases
ABC — Assume Nothing, Believe No-one, Check Everything. The Senior Investigating Officer’s mantra for maintaining an open and enquiring mindset in investigations.
Copper’s Nose — a police officer’s instinct. The sixth sense which often guides an officer’s suspicions.
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.
PC Rain — so called as a good downpour has a greater chance of clearing people, including drunks and criminals, off the street than any number of police officers can!
Q Word — short for ‘quiet’. Emergency services personnel never say the word ‘quiet’, as it invariably is a bad omen, causing chaos to reign!
Shit Magnet — Slang for a police officer who seems to attract trouble and around whom disaster invariably reigns.
Chart of police ranks[1]
Police ranks are consistent across all disciplines and the addition of prefixes such as ‘detective’ (e.g. detective constable) does not affect seniority relative to others of the same rank (e.g. police constable).
