Which of the following best describes the two valuable purposes of witness statements?

• A. Documentation and record-keeping
• B. Creating a narrative from memory
• C. Documentary record and establish a commitment to the information
• D. Training staff in interviewing techniques

Answer: (C)

Witness statements are meant to both preserve what happened and ensure the witness takes responsibility for what they report. The first purpose is to create a documentary record: they capture specific facts—what the witness saw or knew, when, where, who was involved—so there is a verifiable artifact in the investigation that can be reviewed later, compared with other evidence, and kept for the case file. The second purpose is to establish a commitment to the information: by reviewing, signing, or taking an oath, the witness signals that they stand by what they’ve written, which helps deter later changes and supports credibility if the statement is scrutinized in follow-up questions or proceedings.

Creating a narrative from memory isn’t the aim because statements should be precise and fact-based rather than crafted into a story. Training staff in interviewing techniques is about how to conduct interviews, not the purpose of the produced statements themselves. So the option that combines a documentary record with a commitment to the information best reflects the two valuable purposes.