Report Writing Flashcards

When writing a Garda incident report, which of the following is the most important principle?

Answer: Recording facts objectively without personal opinions or assumptions

Garda reports must be factual and objective. Personal opinions, assumptions, and emotional language can undermine the credibility and legal admissibility of the report. Facts should be recorded as observed.

Which of the following is the best example of objective language in a police report?

Answer: The male was observed staggering and his speech was slurred

Option A describes observable behaviour (staggering, slurred speech) without making subjective judgements. The other options contain opinions ('obviously drunk', 'looked guilty', 'troublemaker') that are inappropriate in official reports.

In a Garda report, what does the acronym 'ADVOKATE' help officers remember when assessing witness reliability?

Answer: Amount of time, Distance, Visibility, Obstruction, Known or seen before, Any reason to remember, Time lapse, Errors or discrepancies

ADVOKATE is a mnemonic used to assess witness evidence quality: Amount of time under observation, Distance, Visibility, Obstruction, Known/seen before, Any reason to remember, Time lapse since event, Errors/discrepancies in the account.

What is the correct chronological approach when writing a report about a road traffic collision?

Answer: Start with when you received the call, describe arrival at scene, then detail observations and actions in order

Reports should follow a chronological structure: when the incident was reported, arrival time, scene observations, actions taken, and evidence gathered — all in the order they occurred.

Which of the following statements is correctly written for inclusion in an official Garda report?

Answer: At approximately 23:15 hours on 15/03/2026, I observed a silver Toyota Corolla, registration 221-D-12345, travelling northbound on the N7 at approximately 140 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.

Option A provides specific, verifiable details: exact time, date, vehicle description, registration number, location, and specific speed — all essential for an effective police report.

Why is it important to record exact words used by a suspect in a Garda report?

Answer: Because the exact words may be used as evidence in court proceedings and must be accurately attributed

Exact quotes from suspects (recorded in quotation marks) can be crucial evidence in court. Paraphrasing or misquoting could be challenged by the defence and may affect the admissibility or weight of the evidence.