Police terms in the UK
{{Short description|Codes used by county police in the UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
State codes are used in the UK only by county police (e.g. West Midlands Police) – other forces such as the Metropolitan Police have other force specific codes.{{Cite web |title=Information about the Road Crime Team |url=https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/disclosure-2023/august-2023/information-road-crime-team/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.met.police.uk |language=en-GB}}
State codes
These state codes provide quick and efficient communication and reduce miscommunication when used correctly.{{Cite web |title=National Police Status Codes - Battenburg Policing Notes |url=https://bbpolice.uk/notes/national-police-status-codes |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=bbpolice.uk |language=en}}
- State 0 = Panic (used for emergencies such as being assaulted)
- State 1 = On Duty
- State 2 = On Patrol (both State 1 and State 2 will be used when starting your shift)
- State 3 = At Station (available)
- State 4 = On Break
- State 5 = Enroute to call
- State 6 = On Scene
- State 7 = Committed – Deployable (used if going to a shop as a Armed Unit if no other units available such as a kid stealing sweets and can go to other calls that may.)
- State 8 = Committed – Not Deployable (vice versa to State 7)
- State 9 = Prisoner Transport
- State 10 = At Court
- State 11 = Off Duty
- State 12 = Confidential Message
- State 13 = Non-Urgent Call Back
- State 14 = Urgent Call Back
- State 15 = Received
- State 16 = Repeat
Call grades
Call grades are used to identify a type of Call and urgency, this also includes response time.{{Cite web |title=Methods used to measure response times in police emergencies |url=https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/d/august-2022/methods-used-to-measure-response-times-in-police-emergencies/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.met.police.uk |language=en-GB}}
- Immediate grade calls – I grade calls — typically calls such as a State 0 (panic) from a officer and are mainly calls with a danger to health such as violence, damage to property and serious injury.
- :Response time: within 15 mins with both lights and sirens.
- Significant grade calls – S grade calls — calls that do require police presence as a degree of importance or urgency that is associated with initial police action however a police response is not required.
- :Response time: within 60 mins with light only.
- Extended grade calls – E grade calls — calls when a officer is required, however a emergency response is not required.
- :Response time: within 48 hours with no lights nor sirens.