The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has collaborated with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces to create a standardized witness statement format for retailers submitting CCTV evidence through a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS). This streamlined statement ensures retailers provide all necessary details for police to process CCTV footage efficiently as evidence in criminal cases.

Supt. Patrick Holdaway, NBCC lead, explains, “Retailers often upload CCTV to DEMS, but police forces were using varied statement formats. After engaging with retailers in workshops, a consistent format was developed to aid both retailers and law enforcement.”

The challenge was establishing a universally accepted statement for police forces. By identifying best practices, the NBCC, alongside the CPS and police, crafted a standard format that meets CPS requirements.

As outlined in the Retail Crime Action Plan, using DEMS to share digital evidence is the fastest, most secure way to transmit CCTV and images, expediting investigations and supporting long-term crime prevention. More information on DEMS is available here: Can your CCTV transfer digital evidence to police?

The new witness statement template, downloadable from the NBCC website, is now accepted by all police forces across England and Wales: Video Witness Statement

Source: National Business Crime Centre, 2024