Young witnesses denied specialist court therapy

By Janaki Mahadevan Thursday, 02 July 2009

Police are turning child witnesses away from pre-trial therapy despite government guidance to the contrary, a report published tomorrow (3 July) will reveal.

Child plays with mock-up court. Posed by models. Credit: Jeremy Enness/NSPCC.

The findings, part of an NSPCC survey of child witnesses, show that of the parents who attempted to get support for their children, nearly one in 10 were advised against it by police.

But government guidance published in 2001, states that neither the Crown Prosecution Service nor the police should determine whether a child should receive pre-trial therapy.

Measuring Up? Evaluating Implementation of Government Commitments to Young Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings, interviewed 182 children and 172 parents, as well as professionals from witness support teams, between May 2007 and October 2008.

The report finds that despite efforts to improve practice over the last decade, children are still being let down by the criminal justice system because of gaps between government guidance and local provision.

Carrie, a 16-year-old witness, said: "I wanted to speak to someone but the police said it would mess up my evidence or something."

Niamh Harraher, a solicitor with the Children's Legal Centre, said: "Guidance on how to create a less stressful experience is there in theory but in practice it is not always followed."

The Association of Chief Police Officers was unavailable for comment as CYP Now went to press.

The Measuring Up? report also suggests that policy on pre-trial therapy is misunderstood by children's services and also by young witness schemes.