Note-taking

Question 1

What features must extensive notes include?

Answer 1

• time and date of offence
• time and date of report
• location of offence
• victims details including name, address, date of birth and contact information
• injuries reported by the victim
• descriptions of offenders
• direction and mode of travel
• descriptions of stolen property
• description of weapons
• description of substances
• diagrams or photographs taken of crime scenes
• details of witnesses including name, address, date of birth and contact information
• detailed information regarding conversations with witnesses and their observations
• detailed information regarding enquires ie time, date, entity, result
• detailed description of exhibits collected including time, date, and location seized
• detailed information regarding execution of search warrants
• detailed information regarding arrest and interview of offenders

Question 2

What does contemporaneous mean?

Answer 2

Contemporaneous means to exist, occur or originate at the same time.

Question 3

What details should be endorsed below contemporaneous notes?

Answer 3

• date
• time
• name
• rank
• number and
• signature

Question 4

What happens when notes go beyond 1 page?

Answer 4

Each page should be endorsed with same details.

• date
• time
• name
• rank
• number and
• rank

Question 5

What are the policies mentioned surrounding using notes to refresh memory in Court?

Answer 5

• the witness must first ask permission to refer to their notes.
• referring to notes is not a matter of right and leave of the court must be sought once the memory is exhausted.

Question 6

What questions will the Prosecutor ask you to proving your notes are contemporaneous in Court?

Answer 6

• did you make notes in relation to this matter?
• where and when did you make these notes?
• did you read over these notes?
• did you sign and date these notes?

Question 7

What is the code for the Initial Action Pad?

Answer 7

VP502, used to create a standardised and accountable method of taking handwritten notes, statements, photo logs, exhibit logs and crime scene logs in a chronological and contemporaneous manner.

Question 8

Are Police allowed to corroborate each other’s notes?

Answer 8

There is no impropriety in police officers collaborating in the preparation of notes. However it should occur contemporaneously. The section corroborated must be consistent with the memory of the other officer, otherwise they shouldn’t be corroborated.