Collecting witness evidence

Introduction

1. Where you are investigating a suspected criminal offence you will need to obtain evidence

2. "Evidence" is any material relevant to proving or disproving the offence(s) that you are investigating. It will commonly consist of:

• witness statements;
• transcripts of interviews under caution (often known in HSE as "PACE interviews");
• documents;
• physical evidence (also known as `real' evidence);
• evidence of a suspect's previous character.

3. "Admissible evidence" is evidence that complies with the rules of evidence so that it can be admitted in evidence in court in order to:

• to prove each element of the suspected offence; and
• to rebut any possible defences.

4. This section will focus on the main evidential requirements affecting witness statements and transcripts of interviews under caution. It will assist in ensuring that the evidence you take from the people you speak to (potential witnesses and suspects) is admissible.