Analysts can find themselves in the witness box giving evidence at any time. Doubt may be cast on the witness’s knowledge, experience, qualifications, conduct, notes, method of analysis and the policies and procedures followed by them and their organisation. An analyst’s evidence may be attacked because it is deemed selective or misleading or based on inadmissible material. This can occur particularly where the intelligence and evidential chains have crossed.

Course outline

The course is an intensive and highly practical day. The morning session is designed to demystify the process of giving evidence. The procedures, the order of events, the roles of different people in the court and the process of giving evidence will be
explained.

In the afternoon delegates will experience both examination in-chief and cross-examination by a solicitor or barrister on the basis of evidential statements or charts from completed cases.

The session is designed to ensure that those who may have to give evidence gain knowledge of the procedures involved to enable them to give a coherent account from the witness box.

Key learning points

• How the adversarial system works
• How to give clear, honest and objective evidence
• How to prepare for giving evidence
• The importance of explaining chart construction, including iconography
• How to make appropriate use of supporting evidence, charts, documents and notes when giving evidence
• How to handle unused (including sensitive) material
• Techniques used by lawyers in cross-examination and how to handle them
• How to explain complex information in a way that can be understood