When using a witness statement form, what is necessary for your narrative report?

When using a witness statement form, it is essential to recognize that this form serves as a formal documentation of what the witness has conveyed. Therefore, it is not always necessary to write a separate narrative report as long as the statement has been thoroughly recorded and accurately reflects the witness's account. The witness statement can often provide enough detail to consolidate the relevant information into your overall report without duplicating efforts.

This approach streamlines the reporting process by allowing officers to rely on the comprehensively completed witness statement, rather than needing to reiterate the same information in a different format. In this way, the narrative report can focus on an analysis of evidence and observed facts, while the witness statement can serve as a direct reference for the account provided by the witness. Quality documentation means that officers should be able to cite the witness statement without the need for redundancy, maintaining clarity and efficiency in the report-writing process.