I’m a crime fiction author who writes British police procedurals. It’s my job to balance authenticity with entertainment. I believe I get it right most of the time. TV crime dramas are there to entertain us, too, and many of them do so. The viewer probably doesn’t even care if there are a few inaccuracies. Unless that viewer is me—especially when there has been lazy or no research.
I’m often frustrated by the way British TV dramas and even books mistakenly use American policing terms. If you’ve ever heard a British detective refer to a crime as “breaking and entering”, putting out an APB (all-points bulletin), or a court issuing a “subpoena,” you’ll know exactly what I mean. The reality is that British and American policing, legal systems, and terminology are very different. Getting these details right is crucial for authenticity, and for writers like me, it’s worth paying attention to the distinctions.
I understand that some British crime screenplays and books are written to encompass a broad British and American audience—but I don’t agree with it. I’ve never heard of that going the other way.
Crime Terminology: What’s the Right Term?
Breaking and Entering (US) → Burglary (UK)
In the US, “breaking and entering” is often used for unlawfully entering a building, typically with intent to commit a crime. However, in England and Wales, this falls under burglary, which covers trespassing with intent to steal, cause damage, or commit grievous bodily harm. The phrase “breaking and entering” is not a legal term in the UK, yet I often hear it misused in British crime dramas.
Robbery
In both the US and UK, robbery refers to theft involving the use or threat of force. However, in England and Wales, for a crime to be legally classified as robbery, there must be direct force or intimidation used at the time of the theft. In contrast, some US jurisdictions use the term more broadly, sometimes including thefts where the victim was unaware of the force at the time (e.g., sudden snatchings that might be classified as theft from the person in the UK).
Felony (US) → Indictable Offence or Either Way Offence (UK)
The US legal system classifies serious crimes as felonies and minor ones as misdemeanours. In England and Wales, the equivalent would be indictable offences for serious crimes, which are tried in the Crown Court, and summary offences, which are dealt with in Magistrates’ Courts. There is also a middle category known as either way offences, which can be tried in either the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court, depending on the severity of the case.
Grand Theft Auto (US) → Theft (UK)
A classic example of American terminology creeping into British dialogue is grand theft auto—a term I’ve never heard a British officer use. In the UK, the correct charge is just theft. We also have the offence of taking without consent (TWOC). This is where the vehicle is taken but not in order to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle, e.g. “joy riders”.
Trespassing (US) → No Direct Equivalent in the UK
Trespassing in the US is often treated as a criminal offence, but in England and Wales, it is usually a civil matter unless it falls into specific categories such as aggravated trespass or trespassing on a railway or military site. Another example of American terminology creeping into British scripts!
Assault and Battery (Defined Differently)
In the United States:
- Assault typically refers to an act or threat that causes the victim to fear imminent harm.
- Battery is the actual unlawful use of force or physical contact.
In England & Wales:
- Assault is causing someone to fear immediate unlawful force (no contact required).
- Battery is the unlawful application of force (physical contact).
- Common Assault is the catch-all term for minor assaults and can be committed by either:
- Putting someone in fear of immediate violence (assault), or
- Actual unlawful touching (battery).
- When a minor battery is charged under common assault, official documents often say “common assault by beating.”
Legal and Procedural Differences
Miranda Rights (US) → Police Caution (UK)
The famous “You have the right to remain silent…” speech is a staple of American crime fiction and TV. In the UK, suspects are given a police caution, which follows different wording but serves a similar function under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), beginning, “You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence…”. The British police officer must also tell the suspect why it was necessary to arrest them, if appropriate to do so at the time.
Plea Bargain (US) → Plea Negotiation (UK)
Plea bargaining is a well-established part of the US justice system, where a defendant can plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a reduced sentence. In the UK, there’s no direct equivalent, but courts do offer sentence reductions for early guilty pleas. However, it lacks the negotiation-driven approach of US plea deals.
Subpoena (US) → Witness Summons (UK)
A court in the US issues a subpoena to compel someone to testify. In the UK, the correct term is witness summons, and I’ve lost count of the number of times British crime fiction shows have got this one wrong!
APB (US) → Circulation (UK)
In the US, an All-Points Bulletin (APB) is issued to alert law enforcement agencies about a suspect or vehicle. In the UK, the equivalent term is a circulation, distributed via the Police National Computer (PNC), shift briefings, or other intelligence-sharing systems.
Police Jurisdictions: Who’s in Charge?
Multiple Agencies (US) → Regional Police Forces (UK)
The structure of policing in the US is vastly different from the UK. American law enforcement is split across federal (FBI, DEA), state (state troopers), county (sheriffs), and local (municipal police). In England and Wales, we have 43 territorial police forces led by a Chief Constable. There are also specialist agencies like British Transport Police. A constable attested in England and Wales has the power of arrest anywhere within that area. This does not include Scotland, except under special circumstances.
Sheriff’s Office (US) → Not Used in the UK
American crime fiction frequently features sheriffs, who are elected law enforcement officers responsible for a county. In the UK, a High Sheriff is a ceremonial role with no policing powers.
State Troopers (US) → Roads Policing Officers (UK)
While US state troopers patrol highways across an entire state, in the UK, roads policing officers (formerly traffic officers) operate within local forces. There is no nationwide equivalent.
Police Ranks: Getting Them Right
Chief of Police (US) → Chief Constable (UK)
In American crime fiction, a Chief of Police leads a department. In the UK, most forces are led by a Chief Constable, except for the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, which are headed by a Commissioner.
Other Ranks
Sergeant (US & UK, but different responsibilities) – UK Sergeants have a more defined supervisory role over constables, while in the US, they often have less direct authority.
Lieutenant/Captain (US) → Not used (UK) – The UK does not have a “Lieutenant” or “Captain” ranks in policing.
UK Police Ranks
Constable & Supervisory Ranks (All UK forces):
Constable (PC) – Police Constable
Special Constable (SC) – A volunteer with the same powers as a PC
Sergeant (PS or Sgt) – Police Sergeant
Inspector (Insp) – Police Inspector
Chief Inspector (Ch Insp) – Chief Inspector
Senior Ranks (All UK forces):
Superintendent (Supt) – Superintendent
Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt) – Chief Superintendent
Chief Officer Ranks (England, Wales & Northern Ireland):
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC)
Deputy Chief Constable (DCC)
Chief Constable (CC)
Chief Officer Ranks (Metropolitan Police & City of London Police):
Commander (Cmdr) (Met Police & City of London Police only)
Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) (Met Police only)
Assistant Commissioner (AC)
Deputy Commissioner (D/Comm)
Commissioner (Comm) (Met Police & City of London Police only)
Scottish Police Ranks (Police Scotland):
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC)
Deputy Chief Constable (DCC)
Chief Constable (CC) (Same as other UK forces)
Detectives use the same rank structure, but have a “D” in front of them, e.g. DC – detective constable. A detective does not out-rank a uniformed rank, e.g. a DC is at the same rank level as a PC. In the UK, detectives are referred to by their rank, never just “detective”, e.g. never “Detective Smith”, but “Detective Sergeant Smith”, or “DS Smth”.
Policing Terms in the US and UK – Final Thoughts
As a crime fiction author, authenticity matters. Understanding these differences makes all the difference in creating believable, immersive crime stories.