Law and Order
arrest noun
the act of taking someone and keeping them because of a crime
an arrest (bxa580)
The police made an arrest after a long investigation.
arrest verb
to take someone and keep them because of a crime
to arrest (bxa581)
They didn’t arrest anyone during the noisy protest.
ban noun
an official rule that says something is not allowed
a ban (bxa582)
They discussed a possible ban during the meeting.
ban verb
to officially say that something is not allowed
to ban (bxa583)
Many schools ban phones during lessons and exams.
bomb noun
a weapon that explodes and causes damage
a bomb (bxa584)
Police found a bomb under the car park stairs.
bomb verb
to attack a place using a bomb
to bomb (bxa585)
Terrorists tried to bomb a busy city street.
commit verb
to do something that is against the law
to commit (bxa586)
She would never commit a serious crime.
court noun
the place where legal cases are heard and decided by a judge
a court (bxa587)
They arrived at court early to meet their lawyer.
criminal adjective
relating to crime or against the law
criminal (bxa588)
She has no criminal background or past offences.
guilty adjective
having done something that is against the law
guilty (bxa589)
They found her guilty of stealing company money.
illegal adjective
against the law, not allowed
illegal (bxa590)
It’s illegal to carry that knife in public.
innocent adjective
not guilty of a crime
innocent (bxa591)
They believe she is completely innocent.
investigate verb
to try to find out the truth about a crime or problem
to investigate (bxa592)
He promised to investigate the case again.
judge noun
a person in a court who decides how to punish someone
a judge (bxa593)
Did the judge agree with their decision?
killing noun
the act of causing someone’s death on purpose
a killing (bxa594)
Police confirmed the killing happened around midnight.
legal adjective
relating to the law or allowed by the law
legal (bxa595)
He needs legal advice before signing the document.
murder noun
the crime of killing someone on purpose
a murder (bxa596)
That murder shocked the whole country deeply.
murder verb
to kill someone on purpose
to murder (bxa597)
She didn’t murder him as the reports claimed.
prisoner noun
a person who is kept in a prison
a prisoner (bxa598)
The prisoner refused to answer any questions.
prove verb
to show that something is true using facts or evidence
to prove (bxa599)
He tried to prove his innocence in court.
release verb
to let someone leave a place where they have been kept
to release (bxa600)
She was released from prison last week.
shoot verb
to fire a gun
to shoot (bxa601)
I thought for a moment that he was going to shoot.
trial noun
the process in a court where a judge decides if someone is guilty
a trial (bxa602)
He is awaiting trial for theft and fraud charges.
victim noun
a person who has been hurt or harmed by a crime or event
a victim (bxa603)
The victim gave her statement to the police.
witness noun
a person who sees something happen, especially a crime or accident
a witness (bxa604)
She was the only witness to the crime.