Taking Statements 

A witness statement should be formatted in a specific way:

3.1 Introducing the witness

This section should give some information about the witness such as their name and occupation.

EXAMPLE:

I am Police Sergeant 1384 Avion SOLAR of the Los Santos Police Service currently based at Mission Row Police Station attached to the Recruitment and Development Department 

3.2 What the statement is about

This section should give a summary of what the statement is about, such as the time, day, date and sentence or two about what the statement is about. 

EXAMPLE

This statement will concern an incident that happened on Friday 13th July 2021 at Legion Square where I noticed an individual who I know to be Bobby DELTA stab another individual who I do not know.

3.3 People involved

This section will list the people involved in the situation as well as a description of them. The guidelines set out in the case of R V Turnbull should also be included for each individual.

(note: if an individual's name is not know they should be called: MALE 1, MALE 2, FEMALE 1 FEMALE 2 ect) 

3.3.1 Describing people

When deceiving people you should include the following:

• Ethnicity (IC code);

• Height;

• Build;

• Hair (colour, length, style);

• Clothing;

• Any distinctive marks;

• Accent.

3.3.2 R V Turnbull Identification

The case of R V Turnbull set out guidance for the identification of individuals using the acronym ADVOKAT:

A- Amount of time Observed;

D - Distance Observed from;

V - Visibility ( Lighting levels, weather);

O - Obstructions (was anything obstructing the view of an individual);

K - Known or seen before;

A - Any special reasons for remembering this individual;

T - Time elapsed between seeing the individual and identifying them.

EXAMPLE

This statement will refer to 2 individuals, one who I know to be Avion SOLAR and the other male whom I do not know and shall refer to as MALE 1.

 Avion SOLAR is an IC1 Male around 6 foot tall, or a slim build and with short brown hair and a goatee style moustache of the same colour. On the day he was wearing a black police stab vest, black t-shirt, black cargo trousers, black boots as well as a belt with various police equipment hanging from it. I observed SOLAR for around a minute and from a distance of about 10 meters as he was on the other side of the road. I had several clear views of SOLAR however occasionally cars would pass by and obstruct my view. The weather on the day was overcast however visibility was still good. I have dealt with SOLAR before and as such believe I could identify him in future if needed. 

3.4 Account of what happened 

A chronological account of the incident should be recorded and should include:

What the witness was doing at the time;

 Description of the location;

 What drew their attention to the incident;

 What happened;

Any vehicles involved;

 EXAMPLE

On the above day and date I was outside the bank on Vespucci Blvd next to Legon Square about to go open a new account with them when I heard a loud bang from the direction of Elgin Avenue. 

I turned around and saw a MALE 1 aiming a firearm at Sgt SOLAR who had his hands up. I was around 20 meters from them at this time and there was some traffic blocking my view at times as well as pedestrians running away from the commotion.  I saw MALE 1 walk up to Sgt SOLAR and grab his hand placing something on his wrists. I am not sure what this was as I could not see it clearly due to the distance.  MALE 1 then pushed Sgt SOLAR into a black baller vehicle before they drove off in the direction of the hospital.  I called the police on my mobile phone to tell them what I had seen. I did not see Sgt SOLAR or MALE 1 again after that.

3.5 Exhibit Evidence

4.1 Before taking a statement