Police Statement

Definition: A statement is a written or video-recorded account authored by a witness of a crime and may be used as evidence in court.

(from http://www.cjsni.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/information/page/Police_Procedure) 

A police statement can take on many forms: it can come as a transccript of a video-taped interview, a witness account or a report authored by a medical practitioner. For simplicity, the features of a police/civilian witness statement shall be considered only. 

Structure:

1. Title of the entire document is important: the title should almost always read 'STATEMENT OF WITNESS'
2. Directly under the title the author should write his/her full, true name; current age and date of birth; current occupation and current address of residence/workplace
3. Next, a verification of truth must be included. It should read along the lines:

   This statement, * consisting of 5 pages each signed by me, is true to 
   the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it 
   is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have 
   wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not 
   believe to be true. 
   by 
   Dated  _________________
   
   Signed  ____________
   Signature Witnessed by __________
   

4. The police statement must be written in a logical order i.e. chronological.
5. Narrate the beginning of the witnessed incident by introducing the where, when, what and who of the event. Accuracy is crucial: for example, with 'when' the witness must provide the exact date and time (to the best to their knowledge) in which the event occured
6. Narrate as much as the witness knows or feels is relevant to the incident, from the beginning till the end of his/her witness of the event, to the best of his/her knowledge.  Leave no observed details out, or any kinds of actions that the witness enacted in response to the incident.
7. Paragraphs can be used freely - use them to structure the statement so that what is conveyed is clear and easily understood. 
8. At the end of every page of the typed document, the witness must sign his/her name; and the person who witnessed the signing of the statement must sign his/her name too
9. Conclude the statement with a signature of the witness, and provide the name of the person witnessing the signing of the statement. 

What to include in a Police Statement:

• Formal register and clear, grammatically correct statements
• Succinct descriptions; mass amounts of details
• Narration of empirical facts, and nothing but facts
• Verifications of truth and signatures
• Write in past tense: a police statement is a written account of what had happened
• Include the what, where, when and who of the incident, and include the changes to these information at different stages of the incident. 
• Leave nothing out!

What not to include:

• Do not use vague, casual diction: 'maybe', 'might', 'I think...' 'probably'
• Never state personal opinions or interpretations of the incident : a police statement should only record blunt, empirical facts
• Do not change grammatical tenses
• Avoid long sentences; provide clear and short statements of witnessed facts
• Illogical or messy structure; not writing in chronlogical order
• Lack of details or necessary information (what, where, when, who; signatures etc.)
• Any emotive language, descriptions etc., or statements attacking a particular person or a group 

Sample

CONDITIONAL WITNESS ORDER

STATEMENT OF WITNESS
(C.J. Act, 1967, s9; M.C. Act 1980, M.C. Rules 1981, r. 70)

Statement of                   L R AYRES
Age of witness (Date of Birth)  Over 21
Occupation of witness           Detective Sergeant
Address                         New Scotland Yard
	                       SW1

This statement, * consisting of 2 pages each signed by me, is true to 
the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it 
is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have 
wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not 
believe to be true.

Dated the 18th day of May 1987

Signed  L R Ayres
Signature Witnessed by [empty field]

On Thursday 14th May, 1987, at 10.29 am I saw a man I know to be
Panos KOUPPARIS, in the passenger seat of a Mercedes motor
vehicle NLW 16OV. The vehicle came out of Fenwick Road, SE15,
and turned left at the junction with East Dulwich Road. it
then turned left again into Peckham Rye. I then followed the
vehicle through South London, over Vauxhall Bridge until it
stopped in Wilton Road, SW1, outside Victoria Station. I then
saw KOUPPARIS disappear into the station, whilst the driver,
whom I now know to be Peter O'NEILL stayed in the vehicle, I
then left the scene and went to Park Street, W1. Arriving
at about 11.15 am. On arrival I took up a position at the
junction with Woods Mews, on foot, Detective Constable MADDEN
took up a position at the junction with Lees Place. At 11.30am
I saw the Mercedes Motor Vehicle come out of Upper Brook Street,
turn left into Park Street, indicate and stop in the nearside

L R Ayres

kerb. KOUPPARIS went into 93 Park Street, the premises of
the Cypriot Embassy. 0'NEILL stayed in the vehicle. KOUPPARIS
was wearing a black trilby hat, dark glasses, a grey raincoat
and a black glove on his left hand. In this hand he was holding
some papers. Detective Sergeant KNOX joined me. Detective
Constable MADDEN then changed position to outside Number 95
Park Street. At 11.40 am KOUPPARIS came out of the Embassy
and walked towards the car, Detective Constable MADDEN and
myself went up to KOUPPARIS and we introduced ourselves.  Detec-
tive Constable MADDEN said "I am arresting you for demanding
money with menaces".  He was then cautioned. KOUPPARIS said
"All right, all right, what's this all about". Detective Constable
MADDEN said "You will be taken to Paddington Green Police Station
where the full facts will be explained". He was taken to the 
Police Station by Detective Constable MADDEN and other officers.
At the time of his arrest KOUPPARIS was carrying a large brown

envelope containing bank notes (Exhibit NP/668) and a filofax

book (Exhibit NP/674)

Signed  L R Ayres
Signature Witnessed by [empty field]

Why this is a good police statement

• Full provision of required information listed above
• Clear, succinct register and style
• Narrations and descriptions of empirical facts; no analysis or interpretations or opinions of any kind
• Chronological order of incident and responses
• Might not be necessary for all police statements, but this author bolded confiscated objects that are used as evidence

Overall, to distinguish a police statement, one should look for:

• Clear, succinct, formal narrative
• Signatures and provision of detailed information
• Verifications of truth