Partial confessions of an expert court witness in the prosecution and defence of alleged drug offences

This article seeks to provide an insight into the work of an expert witness working in drug trials in Crown courts.

The approach is a case study of a single expert witness, drawing on experiences over several years.

The evidence produced in court is subject to the personal limitations and organisational constraints of the experts involved. Prosecution often relies on unreliable and secretive sources. It is important to increase transparency and for a robust challenge to be made to some claims. Many experts are former police officers who are rarely objective or neutral, hence the need for independent experts from within the field.

Personal experience cannot always be generalised so limits the information presented in this case study.

The role of expert witness is a career development opportunity for people working in the drugs and alcohol field.

It is important to understand the subjective way in which testimony and evidence is produced.

This paper gives a rare insight into a key aspect of the legal process.