ABSTRACT
Your Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer should have taken you through the preparatory steps of giving evidence. In a criminal prosecution your witness statement will most likely be the signed statement you made to the police. As a witness you will not be allowed to hear the proceedings before giving evidence. You will wait outside the courtroom until you are called by the prosecution or defence. For many witnesses this can be a nervous time although it might be an opportunity for you to make good use of your time. You are allowed to refresh your memory from your statement before going into the witness box.
