>[!important] >Use clear, professional & unambiguous language. Writing police statements is hard & requires a lot of practice. Do your best to remember the rules of evidence we were taught, particularly hearsay. # Mandatory Requirements - Chronological Order - 12 Hour Clock (2:00 pm) - The accused's full name, date of birth & address (John SMITH 12-DEC-2003) - Provide what you **saw**, **heard** & your **actions** - Caution & Rights - **Do not** include convo with anyone but accused unless **exception** to **hearsay** evidence rule - Exhibits: - Continuity & correct handling - Forensic procedures followed - Include PALM # - Exhibit placed in locked recepticle - DVD recorded interview pro-forma - [[41.08 Body-worn Camera's & Statements]] - Disposition of accused - E.g. The accused was released pending summons # Routine Police Procedure Routine procedure does not help prove the case. Below is a list of procedures that trip people up (**avoid including them**): - Putting gloves on as a safety precaution. Unless you're seizing items or FPX/DNA relevance applies, don't include it. - Handcuffing & reasons why. - Only required if offences like assault police / resist arrest exist. - Call-signs. Use members names, never their call-sign. - Searching & Justifications. - If nothing is found, it is of no evidentiary value to include in your statement. - Your notes would contain "conducted search @ 1200" etc. - Name-checks conducted, do not need to be included. - Entry onto the ePDR. - Photographing or FPXing the accused at 900. - Statement taken from witness. This is on the brief & does not need to be included. # Professional Jargon Avoid police jargon where possible: - Use "went" rather than "proceeded" - Use "fight" rathen than "altercation" - Compare these two sentences: - I proceeded to premises situated at 19 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda, where I observed a number of youths involved in an altercation on the footpath. - I went to a house at 19 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda, where I saw three youths fighting on the footpath. # Specific Examples ## Start of Statement On Friday the 1st of January 2022 I was working divisional van duties in the Mulgrave area with Constable BLOGGS. ## How You Got Involved At 3:15 pm we recieved information from the Police Communications Centre (PCC) to attend Chester Road, Mulgrave regarding an assault. We were given a description of two male suspects and a knife. ## Arrival At 4:05 pm we went to a laneway at the rear of 1 Chester Road, Mulgrave. I saw a Caucasian male, approximately 35 years old, 180cm tall, solid build, dark complexion with blond hair. He had a black cross tattoo on the right side of his face. I now know this person to be the accused, Joe BLOGGS. ## Individual Experiences - Consider **distance** & **lighting** I saw the accused... I heard the accused... I spoke to witness David JOE. I took brief notes of what he told me which he read & signed. I spoke to the victim Steve JACOBS and as a result of the information he gave me, I attended Southern Cross Railway Station. ## Arrest You are under arrest for Theft of Liquor from a Bottle Shop at 2 Smith Street, Sunshine. You do not have to say anything... ## Direct Speech I said, "Hello." He said, "Go away." ## Searching In the presence of Constable BLOGGS I searched the accused. I located a black GUCCI bag in his left jeans pocket. I opened the GUCCI bag and saw a Victorian Driver's licence in the name of the victim, Joseph PRINGLE. Constable BLOGGS placed the GUCCI bag and its contents into an exhibit bag and labelled it. He kept the wallet in his [[possession]]. ## Crime Scene Procedure - May be relevant to include gloves / procedure relevant to DNA/FPX ### Tape Constable BLOGGS & STUART secured the scene at La Trobe Street by placing police tape across Elizabeth Street. ### Sketching I sketched the scene. ### Photographing I took four photographs from Jones Street of the ANZ Bank and Car Park. ### Producing I now produce the cigarette. I now produce two photographs of Jones Street. ## Continuity of Exhibits Constable SMITH kept the cigarette in the evidence bag in his [[possession]]. SMITH placed the cigarette in the locked compartment of the divisional van. At 9:30 am we arrived at the Glen Waverley Police Station. In my presence, SMITH took the cigarette from the locked compartment in the divisional van. They remained in his [[possession]]. I recorded the cigarette into PALM, property number 201033-W-2234. I gave the items to the Melbourne West Property Clerks and in my presence they stored the items in a locked property store.