Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Evidence Act 2008 - SECT 33

Evidence given by police officers

33. Evidence given by police officers



(1) Despite section 32, in any criminal proceeding, a police officer may give
evidence in chief for the prosecution by reading or being led through a
written statement previously made by the police officer.

(2) Evidence may not be so given unless-

   (a)  the statement was made by the police officer at the time of or soon
        after the occurrence of the events to which it refers; and

   (b)  the police officer signed the statement when it was made; and

   (c)  a copy of the statement had been given to the person charged or to the
        person's Australian legal practitioner or legal counsel a reasonable
        time before the hearing of the evidence for the prosecution.

Note Paragraph (c) differs from the Commonwealth Act and New South Wales Act.

(3) A reference in this section to a police officer includes a reference to a
person who, at the time the statement concerned was made, was a police
officer.