Talking to the Police

Lesson: What Happens

When a Crime is Committed?
CLB 5-6 Instructional Package
Talking to the Police
CLB Outcomes

CLB 5-III: Getting Things Done Give and respond to informal requests, permission,
suggestions and advice.

CLB 6-IV: Comprehending Understand moderately complex descriptive or

Information narrative texts on familiar topics.

Complete forms requiring detailed personal

CLB 5-III Getting Things Done information.

Content Outcomes

• Understand the legal and social conventions of interacting with the police
• Identify the process of making a complaint against the police

Resources

• People’s Law School (PLS) Fact Sheet, Talking to the Police (also available in hardcopy,
published 2014)
• PLS worksheets “Talking to the Police: What Happens When a Crime is Committed”
• Computer Lab (optional)

External Resources and Referrals

• For more information on policing in BC, visit the Ministry of Justice at

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/policeservices/.
• Invite a police officer to visit your school or visit a Community Policing Centre

Assessment Plan and Tools

• Self-assessment checklist

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Sample Lesson Plan

Time Sample Tasks Expected Outcome Resources

Warm up
Generate interest PLS Worksheet:
• In pairs or small groups, students discuss Get Ready!
the pictures Activate prior
15’
• Go over vocabulary, if needed knowledge
• Assess level of knowledge of/ interest in
policing in BC

Predict and Read

Provide conceptual PLS Worksheet:
• Students predict answers to questions and framework and Predict!
vocabulary about talking to the police activate vocabulary
15’ • Students confirm their predictions by needed to
reading the first few sections of the PLS understand text PLS Talking to the
Fact Sheet Police Fact Sheet

Vocabulary
Extend PLS Worksheet:
• Students identify words that refer to a understanding of Build your
15’ person and then use them to complete words encountered Vocabulary!
sentences in text
• Students identify verbs and then use them
to complete sentences
Give advice
Analyze the use of PLS Worksheet:
• Students analyze sentences and identify modals for Give Advice!
suggestion, permission, obligation suggestion,
30’ • Students analyze modal verbs and identify permission,
how they are used obligation
• Students practice the grammar of giving
advice and then practice giving advice Give advice
Fill it Out
Complete an PLS Worksheet:
• Discuss police misconduct; review booklet extended form Fill it Out!
for examples of what limits there are on
20’ police behavior
• Students fill in a sample form based on the
actual form from the Office of the Police
Complaint Commissioner

Discussion
Think critically PLS Worksheet:
10’ • Students talk about the relationship Talk about it!
between the police and the public in small Express opinions
groups, including cross-cultural analysis

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Time Sample Tasks Expected Outcome Resources
Research
Find out more about PLS Worksheet: Find
• Individually or in pairs, students research a policing in BC out More!
20’ topic of interest related to policing
• Students share their information with the computer lab
class
Field Trip or Guest Speaker
Meet a police officer PLS Worksheet:
• Visit a Community Policing Centre Connect!
• Invite a representative from your
TBD Community Policing Centre to come to your
school
• Contact a School Liaison Officer to talk
about the work they do in your local high
school
Self-Assessment
10’ Self-assessment PLS Worksheet:
• Allow students to fill out self-assessment What did you learn?
form independently

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Get Ready!
Look at the pictures 1 below.

What is happening?

What do you think the people are saying?

What is going to happen next?

1 images from Shutterstock.com/Nadiia Gerbish.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Predict!
You are going to read part of a Fact Sheet called Talking to the Police. Here are some questions
that will be answered in the text. Can you guess what the answer will be? Can you guess some
words you will read?

Question Possible Answer Vocabulary

rules about not hurting people kill, steal, rob, break the
What is criminal law?
or stealing things law, court

What should you do if the

police stop your car?

When can the police enter

your home?

What happens if you see a

crime happening?

What if a crime happens to

you?

Read!
Scan the first few sections of the Fact Sheet to check your answers.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Build your Vocabulary!
Who’s who? Which of these words refer to a person?

criminal complaint witness

illegal pull over interpreter

officer ownership arrest

obey bribe victim

duty a warrant identify

Who’s who? Use the words from the list above.

1. Jennifer saw a man hit a parked car with his car, and then drive away. She is a

_____________________________.

2. Tom’s house was broken into and his laptop was stolen. He is a

_____________________________.

3. Sandy works for the RCMP. She is a police _______________________________.

4. Amber can communicate fluently in both English and Farsi. She helps the police when

they are trying to talk with someone who only speaks Farsi. She is an

_____________________________.

5. Ben steals cars. He is a _______________________________________________.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Build your Vocabulary!
Who’s does what? Which of these words refer to a verb (an action)?

criminal complaint witness

illegal pull over interpreter

officer ownership arrest

obey bribe victim

duty a warrant identify

Who’s does what? Use the words from the list above. Change the form of the verb to suit the
meaning of the sentence.

1. The speeding driver ____________________ (not) the red light, and went through the

intersection without stopping.

2. When the police want you to ____________________________ while you are driving,

they will flash their blue and red lights and sound their siren.

3. The witness ________________________ the man who stole her bag by pointing to his

picture at the police station.

4. The police officers _____________________ Ben for stealing a car.

5. In Canada, it a serious offence to try to ____________________ a police officer.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Give Advice!
Use should, can, must and have to when giving someone advice about how to talk to the police
in Canada and describing rules and laws.

Read and discuss the sentences below.

• Which sentences are about suggestions? (i.e. saying that something is a good
idea to do) How do you know?
• Which sentences are about permission? (i.e. saying that someone is allowed
to do something) How do you know?
• Which sentences are about obligation (i.e. saying that something is a rule or
law)
• Which sentences are the strongest? weakest? How do you know?
• Which sentences mean that there is a choice? How do you know?

1. If a police officer hits you or calls you bad names, you can make a complaint.

2. You must never offer the police money.

3. If you see a crime happening, you should call the police.

4. In Canada, the police have to obey the law.

5. The police can come into your house if they have a warrant.

6. If you are a witness to a crime, you should give the police any information that can help
them.
7. When you are driving a car, and you see a police car with flashing lights behind you or
driving beside you, you must stop at the right side of the road.
8. The police can come into your house if they think a serious crime is happening in your
house.

9. If you are stopped by a police officer while driving, you have to show your driver’s license.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Give Advice!
Use should, can, must and have to when giving someone advice about how to talk to the police
in Canada and describing rules and laws.

Think about how we use these modal verbs. Put the statements under the words they apply to.
Some may apply to more than one modal verb.

should can must have to

use to state an say that something use to state

there is no choice
obligation is a good idea permission

use to make a not often used in

there is a choice your thoughts?
suggestion spoken English

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Give Advice!
Use should, can, must and have to when giving someone advice about how to talk to the police
in Canada and describing rules and laws. Practice saying the sentences using the correct modal
verbs. Cut these sentences into strips.

If a police officer hits you or calls you bad names, you _____ make a complaint.

You ______ never offer the police money.

If you see a crime happening, you ________ call the police.

In Canada, the police _________ obey the law.

The police _________ come into your house if they have a warrant.

If you are a witness to a crime, you _______ give the police any information that
can help them.
When you are driving a car, and you see a police car with flashing lights behind
you or driving beside you, you _________ stop at the right side of the road.
The police _________ come into your house if they think a serious crime is
happening in your house.
If you are stopped by a police officer while driving, you ________ show your
driver’s license.

Suggestions for practicing

• True or False - Can you remember the information correctly? Test each other.
• Grammar Drill – Can you change these statements into questions? How about negatives
(Can you keep the meaning the same)?
• Role Play – With a partner, pretend one of you is giving advice to the other about how
to talk to police in Canada.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Fill it Out!
Practice filling out forms.
In Canada, the police have to obey the law. Their duty is to protect
the people in the community. There are rules for the police. If a
police officer hits you or calls you bad names, you can complain. 2

Jacob Singh, 25, was walking home one evening when the police stopped him and asked
to look in his bag. He didn’t know why they were asking him to do that so he said no. The
officers told him to open his bag. Jacob started walking away from the officers. They ran
after him and grabbed his arm. He fell to the ground and hurt his knee and his arm. After
the police officers looked in his bag, and didn’t find anything illegal, they let him go home.
The next day Jacob decides to make a complaint against the police.

Fill in the form on the next page using the information given in the story about Jacob. Use the
school address and phone number.

2 Image of form downloaded from Microsoft clip art.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
COMPLAINT FORM OFFICE OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISIONER
*Indicates this information is required in order to process your complaint. Please be as precise
as possible.
YOUR DETAILS

Last Name:* First Name:*

Title:* Date of Birth:

(Y/M/D)

Telephone / Mailing
Email: Address:

* Please provide at least 1 way in which we can contact you *

THE INCIDENT

When did the incident happen (date

and time)? *

Where did the incident happen? *

Name of the Police Department

involved: * Police File # (if known):

Name or badge number of Officer(s) – if

known:

Were there any witnesses? If so, please

list their names and contact information
(if known):

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Talking to the Police
Talk about it!
• How does talking to the police in BC compare to talking to police in your country of
origin? Is there any difference in people’s attitude towards the police?
• Are the rules governing police behaviour tougher here or there?
• If you witness a crime, would you contact police? Why or why not?

Find out More!

Use a computer at school or at home to research a policing topic of your choice. Share your
information with your classmates.

o The history of the RCMP

o Municipal and provincial police forces
o Recruitment criteria for the RCMP
o Community Policing Centres
o Auxiliary Reserve Police
o Crime Stoppers
o School Liaison Officers

Connect!
Prepare a list of questions and then make arrangements to meet a police officer:

• Visit a Community Policing Centre.

• Invite a representative from your Community Policing Centre to come to your school.
• Contact a School Liaison Officer to talk about the work they do in your local high school.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
What did you learn? Fill this out on your own.

Yes, I can do I need to I can’t do this

this on my review this. yet.
own.

I can identify some of the rules and   

expectations of talking to the police.

I can get information from this kind of   

informational text.

  
I can fill in a form.

I can give advice using the correct   

modal verbs.

What else did you learn today? What other questions do you have about policing in BC?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to the Police
Build your Vocabulary!
ANSWER KEY

Who’s who? Which of these words refer to a person?

criminal complaint witness

illegal pull over interpreter

officer ownership arrest

obey bribe victim

duty a warrant identify

Who’s who?

1. Jennifer saw a man hit a parked car with his car, and then drive away. She is a witness.

2. Tom’s house was broken into and his laptop was stolen. He is a victim.

3. Sandy works for the RCMP. She is a police officer.

4. Amber can communicate fluently in both English and Farsi. She helps the police when

they are trying to talk with someone who only speaks Farsi. She is an interpreter.

5. Ben steals cars. He is a criminal.

Talking to the Police: When a Crime is Committed - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to Police
Build your Vocabulary!
ANSWER KEY

Who’s does what? Which of these words refer to a verb (an action)?

criminal complaint witness

illegal pull over interpreter

officer ownership arrest

obey bribe victim

duty a warrant identify

Who’s does what? Use the words from the list above. Change the form of the verb to suit the
meaning of the sentence.

1. The speeding driver didn’t obey (not) the red light, and went through the intersection

without stopping.

2. When the police want you to pull over while you are driving, they will flash their blue

and red lights and sound their siren.

3. The witness identified the man who stole her bag by pointing to his picture at the police

station.

4. The police officers arrested Ben for stealing a car.

5. In Canada, it a serious offence to try to bribe a police officer.

Talking to the Police: What happens when . . . ? - People’s Law School 2013
Talking to Police
Give Advice!
ANSWER KEY

should can must have to

use to make a use to state an

suggestion obligation
use to state use to state an
permission obligation
say that something is there is no choice
a good idea there is a choice there is no choice
not often used in
there is a choice spoken English

Talking to the Police: What happens when . . . ? - People’s Law School 2013