The Role Of The Expert Witness In Police Custody

In recent years, the landscape of healthcare provision within police custody has undergone significant changes. The increasing presence of nurses and paramedics working as Custody Healthcare Practitioners (CHCPs) marks a shift towards a predominantly nurse-led service. However, this transition has led to a notable decline in the number of Forensic Medical Examiners (FMEs) available to serve as expert witnesses. This shortage of forensic healthcare expert witnesses poses challenges for the criminal justice system, highlighting the urgent need for specialised education and training for CHCPs to achieve expert witness status. Ensuring that CHCPs receive formal expert witness training is essential for maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of expert evidence in legal proceedings.

Laurie Small, Custody Healthcare Practitoner and former Expert Witness for Somek & Associates, recently shared her own experience working in police custody...

You can view the full article in Expert Witness Journal online here.