Terms of Use
These terms apply when you use the Ask Big Sarge app and this website. By using the app you agree to them. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the app.
The most important part. Ask Big Sarge is a reference aid. It is not legal advice. It does not replace your force policy, College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP), CPS guidance or legal advice. You are responsible for the decisions you make.
1. Who we are
Ask Big Sarge is provided by Aaron Parry, trading as Ask Big Sarge, England (“we”, “us”). Contact: support@askbigsarge.co.uk.
You also agree to the terms of the store you downloaded the app from (Apple’s App Store or Google Play). If these terms conflict with the store’s rules on purchases, the store’s rules apply.
2. A reference aid, not legal advice
- Ask Big Sarge summarises the law of England and Wales in plain English. Summaries leave things out. Always check the full source when it matters.
- It does not replace your force policy and procedures, your training, College of Policing APP, CPS guidance, or advice from a supervisor, your force legal team or a lawyer.
- If the app and your force policy differ, follow your force policy and get advice.
- Describe the job suggestions are made with the help of AI. They are a starting point to help you find the right card. They may miss an offence or power, or suggest one that doesn’t fit. Read the card and use your own judgement.
- Exam prep is for revision. We don’t promise that you will pass an exam. It is not endorsed by the College of Policing or any exam body.
- The app covers England and Wales only. It does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland.
3. How we keep cards accurate
Each fact on a card is traced to an official source, such as legislation.gov.uk, the PACE codes, CPS, GOV.UK or College of Policing guidance, or case law cited there. We check for changes to the law every day. A change is only published after it has been checked and approved. Law that has been passed but is not yet in force is shown as a flagged pending change.
We work hard to get this right, but we can’t promise every card is complete, error-free or up to date at every moment. Each card links to its sources so you can check them. If you spot a mistake, please tell us at support@askbigsarge.co.uk.
4. Independence
Ask Big Sarge is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force.
5. Purchases and subscriptions
- Free. Key facts and Do now on every card, keyword search, favourites, What’s changed and 3 Describe the job searches a month are free.
- Pro yearly. A subscription that renews each year unless you cancel. It may start with a free trial. If you cancel during the trial, you won’t be charged.
- Pro for life. A one-off payment for Pro with no end date.
- Exam prep. A one-off payment per exam. Bundles combine Pro for life with one exam.
- All purchases are made through Apple or Google, using your store account. They take the payment, not us.
- To cancel a subscription, use your Apple ID or Google Play subscription settings. Cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date to avoid the next charge. Pro then lasts until the end of the period you paid for.
- Refunds are handled by Apple or Google under their refund rules. Apple: reportaproblem.apple.com. Google: your Google Play order history. This doesn’t affect your legal rights as a consumer.
- Purchases are tied to your store account. Use “Restore purchases” in the app to get them back on a new phone using the same account.
- Prices are shown in the app before you buy. They may change, but a change never affects something you have already bought.
- Some features have a fair use limit to keep the service working for everyone. For example, Pro includes up to 60 Describe the job searches a day.
6. Our promise
We never take away what you’ve paid for. We won’t move a feature you paid for behind a new or higher price. One-off purchases are yours for good, including future updates to them; exam prep gets free updates until you pass. Cards already on your phone keep working offline.
Some features need our servers or a provider to work, such as Describe the job, updates and restoring purchases. If we ever had to stop a service like this, we would tell you in advance, and everything already on your phone would keep working.
7. Acceptable use
You agree not to type names, addresses or other details that identify a real person into Describe the job; use the app for anything unlawful or in a way that breaks your force’s rules on personal devices; copy, scrape, resell or republish the content in bulk; try to get around purchases, allowances or the notes lock; or attack, overload or interfere with the app or our servers. Never use your phone in a way that is unsafe, such as while driving.
8. Content and copyright
Legislation and other public sector information is reproduced and paraphrased under the Open Government Licence v3.0. College of Policing APP is linked to, not copied. The rest of the app, including the card wording, exam questions, design and code, belongs to us or our licensors. You may use it for your own personal work and study.
9. Our responsibility to you
- We provide the app with reasonable care and skill. If it doesn’t work as described, tell us and we will try to fix it.
- We are not responsible for decisions you make or action you take on duty, including arrests, searches, charges, case files, disciplinary matters and exam results.
- We are not responsible for losses we could not reasonably have expected, or for business losses.
- We are not responsible for loss of notes or progress. These are kept only on your phone.
- If we are found responsible for a loss, our total liability is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim.
Nothing in these terms limits our liability where the law doesn’t allow it, including death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, and your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
10. Changes and ending
We may update these terms and will change the date at the top and, for significant changes, tell you in the app. You can stop using the app at any time by deleting it. Remember to cancel any subscription in your store account settings.
11. Governing law
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also bring a claim in your local courts.
12. Contact
support@askbigsarge.co.uk. See also our Privacy Policy and Support page.