Witness Interviewing and Statement Writing (MG11)
For investigators and enforcement officers in criminal (regulatory) framework this programme teaches the two core skills enforcement demands—together, as practice requires.
You will learn to:
- Draft clear, defensible MG11 (s.9 CJA) professional witness statements. No more confusion of how to structure it.
- Interview witnesses of fact in a structured, controlled way so every detail needed to prove or disprove offences is captured—nothing missed, nothing assumed. This part is about best practice in obtaining a statement from your witness, including planning, preparing and the methodology.
We cover structuring and evidencing MG11s using chronology, exhibits, and supporting contemporaneous notes (if any), while building interviewing skills in planning, rapport, question strategy, and real‑time adaptation—guiding pace and direction without coaching or leading.
You’ll learn to identify different witness types and how to support them. With hands‑on guidance, you’ll complete key Manual of Guidance witness‑care forms: MG02, MG11, MG19, MG10, etc. and understanding their purpose.
This training closes the gap between what to write and how to get it, building confidence under pressure, evidential reliability, and alignment with the expectations of solicitors, magistrates, and senior enforcement decision-makers.
Course Overview
Additional Focus
Producing a legally sound statement is a core skill, but in practice, taking or drafting statements often means managing people in stressful or emotional circumstances. While the legal and procedural standards are non-negotiable, the ability to maintain rapport, adapt communication, and ensure understanding is often not given space in technical training.
This course includes content reviewed by a practicing therapist with trauma-informed, mental health-aware content; helping practitioners see how awareness of the person as well as the process supports investigative interviewing techniques, equality duties, improves cooperation, and results in stronger, clearer evidence.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Explain how structured interviewing and precise drafting work together to produce statements that meet evidential and procedural standards.
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Establish clear, defensible links between witness accounts, contemporaneous notes, and exhibits—without compromising sensitive operational details.
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Apply adaptable interviewing strategies that support completeness, accuracy, and fairness across different witness types and contexts.
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Translate interviews into MG11 statements that are chronological, material-focused, and suitable for scrutiny by legal and enforcement professionals.
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Implement best-practice techniques for recording, reviewing, and presenting information in ways that support reliability and withstand legal challenge.
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Model professional communication behaviours that promote clarity, cooperation, and control in pressured or sensitive environments.
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Evaluate how empathy, legal precision, and appropriate support measures contribute to stronger, fairer, and more credible witness statements.