R v Turnbull • Identification

ADVOKATE police meaning

Assessing eyewitness identification evidence (Turnbull factors). A quick, source-backed reference for the UK policing mnemonic ADVOKATE.

Short answer

Checklist for testing the reliability of a witness's identification of a suspect, used when recording first accounts and descriptions; derives from R v Turnbull [1977] and PACE Code D.

Legal anchor: R v Turnbull [1977] QB 224; PACE Code D

ADVOKATE
R v Turnbull [1977] QB 224; PACE Code D
AAmount of time under observation
DDistance from the person(s)
VVisibility
OObstructed view
KKnown or seen before
AAny reason to remember
TTime elapsed since the incident
EErrors or material discrepancies

When officers use it

Checklist for testing the reliability of a witness's identification of a suspect, used when recording first accounts and descriptions; derives from R v Turnbull [1977] and PACE Code D.

Practical point: the mnemonic is a memory aid, not the test. Decisions still turn on the live facts and the underlying law (R v Turnbull [1977] QB 224; PACE Code D) — record your rationale, not just the letters.

Why Section includes this

Section is a fast UK police reference app for officers and student officers: offences, points to prove, PACE powers and the standard mnemonics in one offline place. Every entry in the app — including this one — was verified against the sources listed below.

What does ADVOKATE stand for?

A = Amount of time under observation, D = Distance from the person(s), V = Visibility, O = Obstructed view, K = Known or seen before, A = Any reason to remember, T = Time elapsed since the incident, E = Errors or material discrepancies.

Is ADVOKATE a law?

No — it is a memory aid used in UK police training. The underlying framework is R v Turnbull [1977] QB 224; PACE Code D.

Sources

5WH — 5WH formula — core investigation questions Golden Hour — Golden hour principle — effective early action PEACE — Investigative interviewing framework

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