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Advanced Witness & Victim Interviewing and Statement Writing (MG11, VPS/VIS, BIS)
For investigators, enforcement officers, and legal practitioners responsible for interviewing and producing statements in criminal cases.
This two‑day course brings together — for the first time — the two core strands of investigative interviewing and statement writing:
- Day 1: Witness Interviewing and Statement Writing (MG11)
- Day 2: Victim Interviewing and Personal Statement Writing (VPS/VIS, BIS)
Whether taken as the full two‑day programme or as stand‑alone modules, delegates gain a complete, practice‑driven system for preparing, conducting, and documenting interviews that withstand legal scrutiny and capture the truth with clarity and precision.
On the witness "branch", you will learn to plan and conduct structured, legally compliant interviews with witnesses of fact, and to draft clear, defensible MG11 statements (your own and others) that integrate chronology, exhibits, and contemporaneous notes (where applicable).
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On the victim "branch", you will develop the skills to take Victim Personal Statements (VPS) — also known as Victim Impact Statements (VIS) — and Business Impact Statements (BIS) in accordance with the Victims’ Code in England and Wales, which sets out victims’ rights to dignity, information, and a voice in the justice process. You will learn not only what the Code requires, but how to apply it in practice to support sentencing outcomes while respecting the psychological wellbeing of the victim. You will also learn how to complete Manual Guidance, such as MG02, MG11, MG19, MG10.
Format & Flexibility
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Advanced Two‑Day Combined Programme:
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Stand‑Alone Modules — Take either day separately if your role focuses on one audience group.
Course Overview
Additional Focus
Developed in collaboration with therapists, this programme goes beyond technical interviewing to address the human factors that make or break evidential quality.
It explores how to manage your own stress levels when conducting interviews in high‑pressure or emotionally charged situations, and how to recognise and respond appropriately to signs of trauma in victims or distress in witnesses.
You will learn ways to build rapport while maintaining objectivity and procedural fairness, select questioning styles that increase the likelihood of obtaining voluntary and detailed accounts, and adapt the pace, tone, and structure of an interview to the individual while remaining within evidential parameters.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Plan and conduct structured interviews with witnesses and victims that meet evidential and procedural standards.
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Draft accurate, defensible MG11 witness statements that integrate evidence in a clear and logical sequence.
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Take and prepare Victim Personal Statements and Impact Statements for Business in line with the Victims’ Code, ensuring victim rights are upheld.
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Identify and apply trauma‑aware communication strategies that protect the interviewee’s welfare and improve cooperation.
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Select questioning approaches that encourage fuller, voluntary disclosure while avoiding leading or coaching.
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Link interview outcomes to case strategy and sentencing principles without compromising fairness.
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Manage the emotional and operational pressures of interviewing, maintaining professional composure and clarity under pressure.
Additional Focus
Learning Objectives
Course Overview
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