Making a statement
When you speak to the investigating officer, tell them what you saw or heard and whether you have made your own record. They will decide whether to ask you to make a formal statement. Even where the attack has been reported and the police are dealing with it efficiently, as the official guidance explains, in many cases and for many reasons the police may not need to take a formal statement from every witness. If that does happen to you, please don't be put off. If you don't understand why, ask them. And if as is more likely than not, there's a good reason thank you for contacting them and showing wiliing - you will be making a difference.
If you agree to give a formal statement, it will normally be taken in writing by a police officer in writing or on video. The police will try to find a time that is convenient to you to take the statement and, if you wish, you can ask that this be done in your own home. You are allowed to be accompanied by a friend or supporter – provided they are not a witness themselves – when you make your statement. If you would like to be accompanied you should tell the officer in advance so that any suitable arrangements can be made.
It is important that any formal statement you sign is accurate as (a) you cannot withdraw it, (b) you will not be given a copy of it before you attend court, and (c) if there are differences between the statement and what you subsequently say in court, these may be used to question the reliability of your evidence. If you are not entirely happy with the written statement the officer has taken (either in long hand at the interview or as a summary from a recorded interview), you should not hesitate to say so and explain why.
Remember it is your statement, not the officer’s, and if you don’t ensure it reflects your account accurately, you may be criticised later if there is any difference between your statement and what you say in court. Apart from any embarassment this may cause, it could even be a reason that the assailant is acquitted. This is one reason why having your own record is a good idea as the officer will want to ensure the statement is not inconsistent with that.
When the officer takes a statement, he or she is meant to give you a copy of the helpful brochure Giving a statement to the police - what happens next?. It's also available in other languages from the right hand column here. If it's convenient, you can save the officer time by printing your own copy first. Either way, make sure they fill in the form on page 9 with the case reference number and their name and contact details - ask for their mobile phone number so you are not stuck in a call waiting system. The fact is having a single and easy point of contact is a real reassurance if and when things go forward.
If you are anxious that there are some police officers who may - through force of habit - treat a witness rather like they treat a suspect, the good news is that during this year (2009/2010) the police will be expected to treat all witnesses fairly and with respect when the Witness Charter applies to them - it already applies to the Crown Prosecution Service. This staggered implementation may explain why Charter has not been well publicised and why the attached pdf of the 2007 edition repeats pages 2 & 3.