---

Home Office

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of (a) interviewing and (b) therapeutic techniques used with sex offence victims. [196646] Paul Goggins: Guidance on interviewing vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, including victims of sexual offences, is contained in "Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, including Children" issued in January 2002. This guidance became operational in May 2002 when it superseded "Memorandum of Good Practice on Video Recorded Interviews with Child Witnesses for Criminal Proceedings". Guidance on therapy is provided in "Provision of Therapy for Child Witnesses Prior to a Criminal Trial: Practice Guidance" and "Provision of Therapy for Vulnerable or Intimidated Adult Witnesses Prior to a Criminal Trial: Practice Guidance" issued in 2001 and 2002, respectively. This guidance took effect immediately. These guidance documents were produced as a result of a wider assessment by an interdepartmental working group into the treatment of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, including the victims of sexual offences, in the criminal justice system. The working group's findings and recommendations were published in the Speaking Up For Justice report (Home Office, 1998).

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

196646; 426 c1142-3W;426 c1146-7W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Children Intimidation Interviews Sexual offences Witnesses Trials Victims

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk