Which of the following is NOT a good characteristic of a police report?

• A. Frequency
• B. Accurate
• C. Concise
• D. Objective

Answer: (A)

A police report should communicate facts clearly and reliably, so it needs to be accurate, concise, and objective. Accuracy means the report reflects exactly what happened, what was observed, and what was reported by witnesses, with no distortions or errors. Conciseness keeps the report focused on essential details—who did what, when, where, and how—without unnecessary or repetitive information. Objectivity requires presenting information without personal opinions, bias, or speculation, sticking to verifiable facts.

The option that describes frequency is not about the quality of a single report. Frequency refers to how often something occurs, which is more relevant to data analysis or statistical trends rather than the clarity and usefulness of an individual police report. For that reason, it’s not considered a good characteristic of how a report should read.