Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Section 9 CJA 1967 witness statements: drafting, mandatory content, service deadlines, admissibility and continuity of exhibits (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

Witness statements

A witness statement is a written record of an individual’s evidence, signed by them to verify the truth of its contents. In criminal cases in England and Wales, such statements are typically taken in the form set out by section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (CJA 1967) and must meet the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (CrimPR 2025), SI 2025/909, Pt 16. Where those statutory conditions are satisfied, the statement (a ‘section 9 statement’) can be read at trial with the other party’s consent. As a result, the witness need not attend court to give live evidence. They are used most often at trial, but also appear at bail hearings and on interim applications. A specific CrimPR form is prescribed for section 9 statements. For guidance on witness evidence in criminal proceedings, see Practice Note: Witness evidence during a criminal trial. For details on victim impact statements, see Practice Note: Victim personal statements in criminal proceedings. Note that expert evidence in criminal cases is subject to further rules and requirements. For further information, see...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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