Search Results

1-4 of 4 results for subject:Witnesses

Show detailed: On Off

Results: 10 20 50 100

Sort by: Newest first Oldest first

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many witness statements were taken by police forces in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Asked by

Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 April 2005

Reference

432 c1134W; 208274

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy (a) to allow a witness to submit the text of a witness statement to the police by email and (b) to make amendments to it by e-mail prior to the witness attending a...

Asked by

Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

10 January 2005

For answer on

22 March 2005

Answered on

22 March 2005

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy (a) to allow a witness to submit the text of a witness statement to the police by e-mail and (b) to make amendments to it by e-mail prior to the witness attending a police station to sign the final document. [208275] Paul Goggins: Section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 sets out the requirements that a witness statement must fulfil in order to be admissible in court. These include that it must be signed by the maker and contain a declaration by the maker that it is true to the best of his knowledge and belief. There is no provision in the Act governing the method or means by which that written statement is arrived at. As a matter of law, therefore, there is nothing to constrain police forces from adopting a policy whereby the text of a statement could be submitted or amended by e-mail. Such an approach would however usually be inadvisable and inappropriate where a statement was likely to be challenged in court, which is the majority of cases. For example, a police officer may need to interview a witness in person to find out whether an offence has actually been committed and the legal elements. The process of interview also enables the officer to assess the quality of the evidence which a witness would be likely to give in court and inform the prosecutor as may be necessary. Finally, it could be difficult for the police to assess whether statements given by e-mail were influenced by pressure or intimidation exerted on a witness by the alleged offender or their associates.

Date

22 March 2005

Reference

432 c663W; 208275

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the number of occasions police were dismissed from court duty on the day of a hearing in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proposals he has to reduce this....

Asked by

Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

24 April 2002

Reference

43693; 384 c329W;384 c329-30W

House

House of Commons

Lord Chancellors Dept

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what reports he has received on cases where there has been a failure to attend at Aldershot Magistrates Court in each of the last three years. - Inc figs.

Asked by

Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 March 1999

Reference

74665; 326 c857-8W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher