Lesson #GP14: Report Writing

A Police Report is a written document prepared by the officer that records, in detail, the officer’s observations and actions as they relate to a specific event or incident. Likewise, this report, or legal document, becomes a permanent record of a particular event or incident. Therefore, KPS officers must learn and practice the proper means of preparing the police report. This is not an easy task. Not only is the skill of writing difficult, but writing with the specific goal of recording information that could help to determine the fate of another person, whether criminal or not, is a great deal of responsibility. The KPS officer must ensure that information relating to any investigation, arrest or other police action must be initiated, supported and justified by the information presented. This lesson will provide guidelines on effective report writing, focusing on the importance of complete and accurate information.

The goal of this lesson is to provide students with an overview of the components, types of information, and techniques required to complete the initial report form.

At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Outline the procedure for criminal reports based on the articles from the PCPC (Provisional Criminal Procedure Code).
2. Identify the two (2) main sections of the UNMIK Initial Report Form that require filling out in order to be considered complete according to the lesson.
3. Position data correctly on the cover sheet of an UNMIK Report Form based on the lesson.
4. List the five (5) characteristics of an effective police report as taught in class.
5. List the vital information to be included in the narrative section of the police report as stated in the lesson.
6. Complete an initial police report with the provided written scenario as described in the lesson.