Lesson

Authorities (e.g. the Police)

Vocabulary for authorities and institutions

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Authorities (e.g. the Police)

This lesson covers vocabulary related to public authorities and official bodies you may contact in professional or emergency situations. You'll learn common nouns, who does what, and useful collocations for reporting incidents, requesting documents, or asking for help.

  • Identify common authorities: police, fire department, customs, immigration, courts, and local government.
  • Learn typical verbs and collocations: report to, contact, file a complaint, request a permit.
  • Understand which authority handles different situations (e.g., theft vs. fire vs. immigration).

Focus on collocations and the correct authority to contact in each situation.

Table

Authorities and common roles

Authority Function Example sentence
Police Maintain public order; investigate crimes I filed a report with the police after the theft.
Fire Department Respond to fires and rescue operations Call the fire department if you see smoke coming from the building.
Customs Control goods entering a country; collect duties Customs inspected the shipment at the port.
Immigration Manage visas, entries and residency She applied to immigration for a work permit.
Court Adjudicate disputes and legal cases The case will be heard in court next month.
Prosecutor Bring criminal charges on behalf of the state The prosecutor presented the evidence to the jury.
Mayor / Local Council Govern a municipality and local services The mayor announced new public safety measures.

Tip

Key collocations and usage

Remember common verb + authority collocations and polite forms for contacting officials:

  • "report to the police" / "file a report with the police"
  • "contact the authorities" / "notify the authorities"
  • "apply to immigration" / "submit documents to customs"
  • "appear in court" / "bring a case before a judge"

Use formal verbs (report, file, notify, apply) in professional contexts.

Example

Examples in context

I filed a report with the police after the laptop was stolen.

The company submitted the documents to customs for inspection.

She contacted immigration to renew her work visa.

The mayor met with the fire department to review safety procedures.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when using authorities vocabulary:

  • Using the wrong preposition: say "report to the police" or "report something to the police", not "report the police".
  • Mixing singular/plural with collective nouns: 'the police' is treated as plural (e.g., 'the police are'), while 'a police officer' is singular.
  • Incorrect collocations: prefer 'file a report' or 'make a complaint' rather than mixing verbs and nouns incorrectly.
  • Confusing which authority to contact: choose the correct body (e.g., call the fire department for fires, not customs).

Double-check prepositions, collocations, and subject-verb agreement.

Quiz

Which sentence uses the correct collocation?

Hint: Focus on the verb + noun collocation used with 'police'.

Quiz

Complete: She went to _____ to report the theft.

Hint: Think about which authority handles criminal theft.

Quiz

If there is a large fire in an office building, which authority should you contact first?

Hint: Which authority handles emergencies involving fires and rescue?

Key Points

Vocabulary

police

noun (collective) CEFR B1 //pəˈliːs//

The civil force responsible for maintaining public order and preventing and investigating crimes.

I contacted the police after noticing the break-in.

Vocabulary

fire department

noun CEFR B1 //ˈfaɪər dɪˌpɑːrtmənt//

The organization that responds to fires, rescues people, and handles related emergencies.

The fire department arrived within minutes and controlled the blaze.

Vocabulary

customs

noun (plural in form) CEFR B2 //ˈkʌstəmz//

The government agency that checks goods entering or leaving a country and collects duties or enforces import/export rules.

All shipments must be declared to customs before arrival.

Vocabulary

immigration

noun CEFR B2 //ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən//

The authority or process that manages entry, stay, and residency of foreign nationals.

You need to contact immigration to extend your visa.

Expression

file a report

verb phrase CEFR B1 //faɪl ə rɪˈpɔːrt//

To officially register an incident or complaint with an authority (e.g., police).

He filed a report with the police after his car was vandalized.

Vocabulary

prosecutor

noun CEFR B2 //ˈprɑːsɪˌkjuːtər//

A legal official who presents the case against a defendant in a criminal trial on behalf of the state.

The prosecutor reviewed the evidence before filing charges.

Vocabulary

court

noun CEFR B1 //kɔːrt//

A legal institution where disputes are heard and justice is administered.

The contract dispute was settled in court.