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Sample sentences for talking to the police


RandomMemberOfPublic
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Hi Everyone.

I'm going on a foreign trip with other people, and will be interpreting for them as I have conversational level ability in the local language. 

One thing I want to improve my vocabulary for is discussions with police, particularly reporting any crimes and following through with that. 

I've tried to make a list of sentences from the top of my (random member of the public) head. I'll list these here to avoid duplication.

Additional sentences would be gratefully accepted. Can I point out that while a list of such sentences looks a bit 

Note that everyone apart from me on the trip is female. Hence, the sample sentences are rather gendered. My target language does not distinguish between 'he' and 'she' in any case.  I don't plan to rote memorise the sentences, but just to learn the vocabulary used in them.

OK, I'm not sure if this is 100% suitable for the forum, but I note that my post will have to be approved by a moderator to be posted. 

Thanks, for even reading. Many thanks for sample sentences. 

[Sentences]

Her wallet was stolen
What is the evidence of the crime? 
Has she been arrested? 
There was a burglary 
Someone filmed her with an upskirt camera 
He lifted her dress 
She was run over by a car 
Somebody snatched her bag 
She needs an interpreter 
She needs evidence of the crime for an insurance claim
Do you think you will be able to apprehend the criminal
Will police attend the scene of the crime
How can she obtain the services of a lawyer 
Will she have to give another statement 
She was scammed by a money changer
He used sleight of hand to not give her the right amount of money 
She is concerned she might have been scammed by a compromised ATM machine. 
She was the victim of a street scam.
There was a gang of criminals working together. 
Somebody punched her in the street. 
She was kicked.
She is the victim of violence.
She was raped 
Somebody fondled her sexually 
Somebody pushed her over. 
We believe that he is a pickpocket
We saw him pick her pocket  
The criminal is still at the scene of the crime
Somebody tried to sell us drugs. 
A corrupt police officer demanded a bribe.
He was bribed. 
He refused to refund her money. 
Equipment that she was using was stolen. 
There was a very aggressive beggar. 
He harassed her. 
She is the victim of harassment. 
She was shortchanged at a shop. 
The goods were not of the correct weight.
She was threatened with a gun.
She was threatened with a knife.
The criminal had a gun or knife.
He had a dagger. 
Her drink was spiked with drugs. 
Have you found his fingerprints? 
She is the victim of a distraction robbery. 
She was approached by a prostitute 
She was approached by an underage prostitute 
That man offered her money for sex
That man offered her money for sexual services
She was flashed by that man. 
That man is a flasher.
He exposed her genitals to her. 
She is the victim of a hit-and-run driver. 
The driver refused to stay at the scene of the accident. 
She is the victim of hacking 
Her financial details were stolen 
How can we report this crime to the police
Is there a police station nearby? 
She was given counterfeit money in her change. 
She wants to make a complaint 
Will she have to attend court as a witness 
When will the legal case be held? 
She was searched by a police officer 
Will she need to provide the password to her phone and/or computer? 

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How much trouble are you expecting on said trip? 😳

Joking aside I always find that a lot of Police in foreign countries can speak and understand English to a certain level. Nonetheless, it’s always great to learn another language rather than expect everyone else to learn ours. 

Which language are you learning? 

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Are you going to Hungary? 

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All I've got stuck in my head on this 

"Journalistse"

 

 

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I would be concerned if I was going on a trip to another country in a female party, with a male translator who could not translate!

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Imho, it’s all well and good having those phrases, but a conversation is a two way event.  I’d learnt how to say hello, how are you in Finland. The first reply was long and I had no idea  if they said yes I’m fine, yes but I have a terminal illness,  or would you like a coffee!!!!!

the best phrase in a police context would be No9.

I have visions of fawlty towers rather than a smooth running conversation.

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On 21/05/2023 at 07:57, RandomMemberOfPublic said:

Hi Everyone.

I'm going on a foreign trip with other people, and will be interpreting for them as I have conversational level ability in the local language. 

One thing I want to improve my vocabulary for is discussions with police, particularly reporting any crimes and following through with that. 

I've tried to make a list of sentences from the top of my (random member of the public) head. I'll list these here to avoid duplication.

Additional sentences would be gratefully accepted. Can I point out that while a list of such sentences looks a bit 

Note that everyone apart from me on the trip is female. Hence, the sample sentences are rather gendered. My target language does not distinguish between 'he' and 'she' in any case.  I don't plan to rote memorise the sentences, but just to learn the vocabulary used in them.

OK, I'm not sure if this is 100% suitable for the forum, but I note that my post will have to be approved by a moderator to be posted. 

Thanks, for even reading. Many thanks for sample sentences. 

[Sentences]

Her wallet was stolen
What is the evidence of the crime? 
Has she been arrested? 
There was a burglary 
Someone filmed her with an upskirt camera 
He lifted her dress 
She was run over by a car 
Somebody snatched her bag 
She needs an interpreter 
She needs evidence of the crime for an insurance claim
Do you think you will be able to apprehend the criminal
Will police attend the scene of the crime
How can she obtain the services of a lawyer 
Will she have to give another statement 
She was scammed by a money changer
He used sleight of hand to not give her the right amount of money 
She is concerned she might have been scammed by a compromised ATM machine. 
She was the victim of a street scam.
There was a gang of criminals working together. 
Somebody punched her in the street. 
She was kicked.
She is the victim of violence.
She was raped 
Somebody fondled her sexually 
Somebody pushed her over. 
We believe that he is a pickpocket
We saw him pick her pocket  
The criminal is still at the scene of the crime
Somebody tried to sell us drugs. 
A corrupt police officer demanded a bribe.
He was bribed. 
He refused to refund her money. 
Equipment that she was using was stolen. 
There was a very aggressive beggar. 
He harassed her. 
She is the victim of harassment. 
She was shortchanged at a shop. 
The goods were not of the correct weight.
She was threatened with a gun.
She was threatened with a knife.
The criminal had a gun or knife.
He had a dagger. 
Her drink was spiked with drugs. 
Have you found his fingerprints? 
She is the victim of a distraction robbery. 
She was approached by a prostitute 
She was approached by an underage prostitute 
That man offered her money for sex
That man offered her money for sexual services
She was flashed by that man. 
That man is a flasher.
He exposed her genitals to her. 
She is the victim of a hit-and-run driver. 
The driver refused to stay at the scene of the accident. 
She is the victim of hacking 
Her financial details were stolen 
How can we report this crime to the police
Is there a police station nearby? 
She was given counterfeit money in her change. 
She wants to make a complaint 
Will she have to attend court as a witness 
When will the legal case be held? 
She was searched by a police officer 
Will she need to provide the password to her phone and/or computer? 

For most countries, you may have to double your language or change your pronoun ( in a non-woke way) to they.  As you will already appreciate, most languages have male/ female versions of verbs and adjectives such as the French use of le/la

or use google translate😳

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What about:

That’s very important but what are you doing about the dog poo?

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