Young witnesses denied specialist court therapy
Janaki Mahadevan
Tuesday, June 30, 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.
The findings, part of an NSPCC survey of child witnesses, show that ofthe parents who attempted to get support for their children, nearly onein 10 were advised against it by police.
But government guidance published in 2001, states that neither the CrownProsecution Service nor the police should determine whether a childshould receive pre-trial therapy.
Measuring Up? Evaluating Implementation of Government Commitments toYoung Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings, interviewed 182 children and172 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 lastdecade, children are still being let down by the criminal justice systembecause of gaps between government guidance and local provision.
Carrie, a 16-year-old witness, said: "I wanted to speak to someone butthe 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 intheory but in practice it is not always followed."
The Association of Chief Police Officers was unavailable for comment asCYP Now went to press.
The Measuring Up? report also suggests that policy on pre-trial therapyis misunderstood by children's services and also by young witnessschemes.
