They probably mixed up the Simple Caution (that is a form of mild wrist slapping) with the warning, also called a caution, that the Police give you before talking to you about anything in which you could by any stretch of the imagination be considered a suspect or witness. The equivalent of the Miranda Rights in the US.

"You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned anything which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."

When I was in the (UK) cops we were trained to dish this out to anybody we spoke to even semi-formally. If nothing comes of your conversation then no problem; if you fail to caution somebody prior to speaking to them, and then their testimony becomes a big deal, the lack of a caution at the start can be a case-breaker. So you basically say it to everybody to be safe. But it is NOT something that is recorded (other than in your pocket notebook) or otherwise appears on anybody's record.

Having personally watched a CSI (or SOCO as we called them then) collect samples at a crime scene, I can categorically tell you that at least in the UK, it is standard practice to collect controls as well as specimens.

For example, there is blood around a broken window: the CSI will collect samples of the blood and also swabs from the other side of the room, and from the wall outside. This allows them to exclude various bits of contamination that aren't related to the crime but are present at the crime scene.

Don't let me get in the way of your assumptions though.

I have a mobile broadband option for my Macbook:

JoikuSpot on my Nokia E71.

I absolutely agree with the sentiment, especially drawing attention to Dame Stella Rimington's breath-of-fresh-air comments. However, I would clarify your first point: Britain's senior police officers (the Chief Constables of their respective forces, who together make up ACPO), are appointed by the Home Secretary, "Wacky" Jacqui Smith.

As such, they owe their positions to falling in line with the Party (capital P pun somewhat intended). The rank and file police officers I know just roll their eyes at stuff like this and carry on as normal -- much like the government's frankly despicable reclassification of cannabis as a class B drug, contrary to a heap of scientific advice.

Yup, simply closing the tab also works in Camino 1.6.3 on Leopard.