Quick query re. status of witness statements

[sosickofthesoundofscreaming]

hello. This might sound like an odd (and probably naive) question, but if you give a witness statement to the police and it is then used in evidence in a crimnal court case - what is the status of the document and the information in it? Is it a matter of public record, and 'open' to anyone wishing to use it, or are there limitations?

Could, for instance, someone use it verbatim in a book that they publish concerning the case?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[sneezecakesmum]

I suppose if it was read out in open court and there were no reporting restrictions then anyone can use it in any way they wanted. Don't see how anything can be restricted by the witness themselves. Dont really KNOW though. Have you tried phoneing the court, the court clerks are very helpful, or the solicitor who has taken the statement from the witness.

[sosickofthesoundofscreaming]

so sorry Sneeze - you answered ages ago and I have been really rude not to acknowledge your info.

I don't really want to phone the court, as it was a rather prominent criminal case (which I would prefer left in the past). I was asking more out of idle curiosity really. Someone involved in the case wrote a book (very badly, never a bestseller!). My police witness statement was quoted for the text of the book. It was never actually read out in court - it was used as part of the prosecution case and provided to the defence team so that they knew what they were up against, and I was questioned/cross examined as a witness.

It just spooked me a bit to read my own words in a published book, by an author who I had met, albeit briefly. It was particularly unsettling because of the nature of the court case. There is no way I can be identified from the book, so I guess I shouldn't have a problem with it - it is just a very odd feeling when things like tha come back to haunt you.

Anyhow, (belated) thanks for your help.