Credit: BBC
A complete guide to all the abbreviations that have cropped up in Line Of Duty so far…
Line Of Duty burst back onto our TV screens last night with its adrenaline-fuelled sixth season premiere. And, naturally, we have been left with so many burning questions about the BBC crime drama.
For instance, who the hell is H? Is DS Steve Arnott’s addiction really going to result in him being killed off? Is DI Kate Fleming a) falling for DCI Jo Davidson, and b) truly on her way to becoming a bent copper? Can AC-12 leader Ted Hasting ever hope to shake off his past disgraces? Who killed the CHIS? And…
Well, what even is a CHIS? Or an AFO, for that matter?
You see, that’s one of the many, many, many things we love about Line Of Duty: it never dumbs things down for its audience, with complex police terminology being no exception.
But, while we do appreciate the show’s writers assuming the best of us, it’s still pretty tricky trying to keep up with all those acronyms and abbreviations.
To save you googling everything during the show (you’re going to need to concentrate if you’ve any hope of solving that H mystery), we’ve created a handy glossary to help you out.
You’re welcome.
AC-12: anti-corruption unit 12
Use: “PC Cafferty, DI Fleming, AC-12.”
ACC: assistant chief constable
Use: “Sir, he was the ACC. I honestly believed it was lawful.”
AFO: authorised firearms officer
Use: “Three AFOs pronounced dead at the scene.”
ANPR: automatic number plate recognition
Use: “ANPR could provide a line of enquiry.”
CHIS: covert human intelligence source
Use: “You need to reveal the identity of your CHIS so we can keep him safe.”
COM: covert operations manager
Use: “Get your COM on the phone, now.”
Credit: BBC
DC: detective constable
Use: “DC Bishop, AC-12”
DI: detective inspector
Use: “DI Fleming, AC-12.”
DIR: digital interview recording
Use: “Start the DIR.”
IR: intelligence report
Use: “Control, Charlie Zulu Five Five, request IR.”
MOPI: management of police information
Use: “There was a code associated with the MOPI notice.”
MPU: missing persons unit
Use: “She’s working with MPU.”
OCG: organised crime group
Use: “The fire arms and balaclavas all fit with the established OCG activity.”
Reg 15: notice of misconduct/gross misconduct
Use: “If you have any doubts, you just watch how fast I’m going to shut down this operation, and serve you, your COM and your UCO with Reg 15s.”
RTC: road traffic collision
Use: “RTC up ahead.”
SFC: strategic firearms commander
Use: “SFC sergeant Danny Waldron, VC5”
Sit rep: situation report
Use: “Stand by for sit rep” / “request sit rep.”
UCO: undercover operative
Use: “Is there a UCO embedded in the OCG that carried out the heroin hijack?”
VO: visiting order
Use: “It’s OK, I used a false name on the VO.”
Line Of Duty season 6 begins on Sunday at 9pm via BBC One.
You can catch up with old seasons of the police procedural via BBC iPlayer now.
Images: BBC One
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