The document had already been scanned before the system failed.
Unit 10
Reports and diplomacy
Incident reports and accountability
Write factual incident records, soften unsupported criticism, and distinguish observation from interpretation.
WritingListeningUse of English
Frontex focus
FADO, fundamental rights, and objective records
01
Learning outcomes
By the end of this unit
- Order past events with the past perfect.
- Use cautious language for incomplete evidence.
- Write an incident record that supports accountability.
02
Report model
Facts first, interpretation second
At 18:40, an officer referred a document to the expert desk. The document had already been scanned twice, but the second image was incomplete. At 18:47, the expert used FADO reference material and identified a discrepancy in one security feature.
The report records each action and source. It does not state that the traveller intended fraud, because intention had not been established. The matter was escalated, the document was secured, and the traveller was informed of the next procedural step.
03
Language focus
Past sequence and cautious criticism
Use the past perfect for an earlier past action when sequence is not otherwise clear. Use appears, may, and based on the available information when evidence is incomplete.
There appears to have been a delay in the handover.
Based on the available log, the alert was opened at 18:42.
Watch this
Cautious language must not hide a confirmed fact or weaken a required misconduct report.
04
Core lexicon
Professional and operational vocabulary
a factual record of an event, response, and follow-up
The officer completed the incident report before the debrief.support a statement with independent evidence
The access log corroborated the recorded time.a difference that may require explanation or verification
The expert found a discrepancy in the document number.unacceptable or unlawful professional behaviour
Possible misconduct must be reported through the correct channel.a chronological record of system actions or decisions
The audit trail showed who had opened the file.From EPSOHQ Frontex database
Acronym focus
Use when discussing reference information for genuine and false documents.
Use when the discussion concerns fundamental-rights expertise.
05
Production task
Write a neutral incident paragraph
Record an event with time, observation, action, source, and follow-up. Do not infer motive.
- Use the past perfect once.
- Attribute information to its source.
- Separate confirmed facts from possible explanations.
About 15 minutes · 120–180 words
Open evaluated task