Victim Interviewing and Statement Writing (VPS/VIS, BIS)
Course Overview
Strengthen how you work with victims by learning to take trauma‑aware, sentencing‑ready statements. This course is designed for investigators and enforcement professionals who interview victims and prepare statements for sentencing exercises in non‑police regulatory contexts, where often technical or financial expertise meets criminal investigative practice.
Under the Victims’ Code for England and Wales, any organisation carrying out functions equivalent to a criminal investigation or prosecution must deliver the same rights to victims. The course focuses on drafting Victim Personal Statements (VPS/VIS) and Business Impact Statements (BIS) for use at sentencing. Grounded in the Victims’ Code and the Joint Agency Guidance on Victim Personal Statements, it builds your understanding of victims’ rights and how to engage victims with dignity and care while maintaining clarity and fairness.
You will learn what should and should not be included in a VPS, VIS or BIS, how to use appropriate wording and emphasis, and how to keep statements accurate and balanced. The course also explores how to reflect impact appropriately in regulatory cases, where harm may relate to safety, financial loss, disruption, vulnerability or wider community impact.
Course details
Duration: 1 Day
Audience: New | Experienced Investigators
CPD: 6 hrs
Delivery: Virtual | face-to-face
(in-house)
Fees: £275 pp | One-Day Course Prices
Course Code: 26AROMK
Additional Focus
Alongside the technical aspects, this course includes a reflective one-hour session on the human dimensions of victim interviewing. You will get an input from a practising therapist registered with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), so you can be confident that the content supports victims and their well-being.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Explain the purpose and legal framework of Victim Personal, Victim Impact, and Business Impact Statements in the context of sentencing.
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Apply the rights and principles of the Victims’ Code when engaging with victims and witnesses.
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Plan and conduct structured, trauma‑aware interviews that elicit complete, accurate, and relevant information.
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Draft clear, concise statements that reflect the victim’s voice.
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Link victim accounts to sentencing principles without overstepping evidential boundaries.
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Demonstrate professional communication behaviours that support clarity, cooperation, and procedural fairness in sensitive situations.
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Reflect on the psychological impact of the interview process and adapt practice to minimise harm while maximising evidential value.