Pick the options above and the description appears here.
The order that works: A to H
Police and control rooms describe people in roughly the same order every time, so the listener can picture them as you speak. A common mnemonic runs A to H:
| Letter | What | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Age | mid 20s |
| B | Build | slim, medium, stocky |
| C | Clothing, head to toe | black cap, grey hoodie, blue jeans, white trainers |
| D | Distinguishing features | tattoo on neck, glasses, limp, rucksack |
| E | Elevation (height) | around 5 foot 10 |
| F | Face | beard, scar, complexion |
| G | Gait | how they walk or move |
| H | Hair | short dark, shaved, long tied back |
Lead with the IC code and sex so the listener knows who you are talking about, then give the rest in that order. Keep each item short. If you do not know something, leave it out; never guess.
Tips from the control room
- Say the direction of travel last and keep updating it. "Now heading north on the high street" is the piece the police need most.
- Clothing changes, faces do not. If the person is likely to shed a jacket, describe what is underneath as well.
- Spell anything unusual with the phonetic alphabet, including names on clothing and registration plates.
- Write it down the moment you have passed it. The same description goes in your incident report and, if it comes to it, your witness statement.
FAQ
What order should I describe a person in?
Identity code and sex first, then age, build, clothing from head to toe, distinguishing features, height, face, gait and hair: the A to H mnemonic. The builder above follows that order.
What is an IC code?
The police identity code for a person's apparent ethnic appearance, IC1 to IC6. See our IC codes tool.
Should I guess a person's age or height?
Give an approximate range, "mid 20s" or "around six foot", rather than a precise figure. An honest range is more useful to the police than a confident wrong number.