This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/oct/10/two-year-old-girl-gives-evidence-in-uk-abuse-case
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Two-year-old girl gives evidence in UK abuse case | Two-year-old girl gives evidence in UK abuse case |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A two-year-old girl is believed to have become the youngest person to give evidence in a UK criminal case, after her interview was recorded by a specialist court team. | A two-year-old girl is believed to have become the youngest person to give evidence in a UK criminal case, after her interview was recorded by a specialist court team. |
| The decision to involve such a young witness in a prosecution was vindicated, according to experts involved in the legal process, by the fact that the defendant in the abuse case pleaded guilty before it came to trial. | The decision to involve such a young witness in a prosecution was vindicated, according to experts involved in the legal process, by the fact that the defendant in the abuse case pleaded guilty before it came to trial. |
| The man was sentenced this month to more than 10 years in prison for sexual offences against a child. Neither the police force involved nor the defendant has been named in order to protect the identity of the child. | The man was sentenced this month to more than 10 years in prison for sexual offences against a child. Neither the police force involved nor the defendant has been named in order to protect the identity of the child. |
| The case has been highlighted by the NSPCC and child protection experts because they said it demonstrated that sexual predators who targeted very young children were wrong to believe no one would give evidence against them. | The case has been highlighted by the NSPCC and child protection experts because they said it demonstrated that sexual predators who targeted very young children were wrong to believe no one would give evidence against them. |
| The interview was conducted by police helped by a professional from the Ministry of Justice’s register of intermediaries which supports communication with witnesses aged under 18, as well as adults with communication difficulties, to give evidence for court hearings. | |
| Speaking on behalf of the professional organisation Intermediaries for Justice, Dame Joyce Plotnikoff, a pioneering criminologist, said: “Offenders may target the most vulnerable in society in the belief that they won’t be able to tell what happened, so this is an important case. | |
| “However, registered intermediaries are a scarce resource, unfortunately available to only a small proportion of those who would benefit from their services. Ministry of Justice plans to increase their numbers have stalled without explanation.” | “However, registered intermediaries are a scarce resource, unfortunately available to only a small proportion of those who would benefit from their services. Ministry of Justice plans to increase their numbers have stalled without explanation.” |
| This year, another intermediary helped a former church chorister rendered immobile by motor neurone disease to fulfil his dying wish and testify against his abuser using eye-tracking technology. | This year, another intermediary helped a former church chorister rendered immobile by motor neurone disease to fulfil his dying wish and testify against his abuser using eye-tracking technology. |
| In the latest case, the young girl was interviewed by a specialist child abuse police officer, assisted by a Ministry of Justice-registered intermediary. The intermediary advised the police about the best way to question the two-year-old, who was initially reluctant to engage with unfamiliar adults and clung to her parents. | In the latest case, the young girl was interviewed by a specialist child abuse police officer, assisted by a Ministry of Justice-registered intermediary. The intermediary advised the police about the best way to question the two-year-old, who was initially reluctant to engage with unfamiliar adults and clung to her parents. |
| The girl began to talk to the intermediary and the police officer. Responding to simple “who”, “what” and “where” questions, she named the suspect and described what had happened, with the help of a paper figure on which she could point to parts of the body. | The girl began to talk to the intermediary and the police officer. Responding to simple “who”, “what” and “where” questions, she named the suspect and described what had happened, with the help of a paper figure on which she could point to parts of the body. |
| “Interviewing very young children is challenging but they can give very reliable and compelling evidence,” the registered intermediary said. “The key is helping the police officer to word questions that are simple enough for the child to understand.” | “Interviewing very young children is challenging but they can give very reliable and compelling evidence,” the registered intermediary said. “The key is helping the police officer to word questions that are simple enough for the child to understand.” |
| The intermediary helped obtain a mouth swab from the child for forensic analysis. When confronted with an officer wearing blue medical gloves, the little girl hid. The intermediary asked for everyone to be given gloves and swabs, and they played for several minutes pretending to brush their teeth. Once she was comfortable, the child gave a mouth swab without difficulty. | The intermediary helped obtain a mouth swab from the child for forensic analysis. When confronted with an officer wearing blue medical gloves, the little girl hid. The intermediary asked for everyone to be given gloves and swabs, and they played for several minutes pretending to brush their teeth. Once she was comfortable, the child gave a mouth swab without difficulty. |
| A police officer involved with the investigation said: “Investigating crimes against young children requires expertise. In this investigation the specialist support of the registered intermediary made sure the victim was well supported and the police interviewer understood how best to talk to the child – ultimately gathering powerful evidence of the most serious offending.” | A police officer involved with the investigation said: “Investigating crimes against young children requires expertise. In this investigation the specialist support of the registered intermediary made sure the victim was well supported and the police interviewer understood how best to talk to the child – ultimately gathering powerful evidence of the most serious offending.” |
| An NSPCC spokesman said the child was “incredibly brave”. He said: “It’s hugely positive to see that she was so well supported to tell police what really happened. The NSPCC has urged the Ministry of Justice to drastically increase the availability of well-trained, independent experts to ensure justice is done. | An NSPCC spokesman said the child was “incredibly brave”. He said: “It’s hugely positive to see that she was so well supported to tell police what really happened. The NSPCC has urged the Ministry of Justice to drastically increase the availability of well-trained, independent experts to ensure justice is done. |
| “An independent specialist who can ensure children are questioned appropriately and their evidence is understood is as important for justice as providing an interpreter for a witness who can’t speak the language.” | “An independent specialist who can ensure children are questioned appropriately and their evidence is understood is as important for justice as providing an interpreter for a witness who can’t speak the language.” |
| Jenny Hopkins, the chief crown prosecutor and national lead on violence against women and girls at the Crown Prosecution Service, said offenders might think they could get away with sexually assaulting a very young child because the victim would not be able to give evidence. | |
| “However, we have seen children as young as two years old able to give a credible, basic description of what has happened to them and with the help of intermediaries and specially trained police and CPS prosecutors, we can prepare a convincing case for court. | |
| “Special provisions will always be made for very young witnesses, so that they feel at ease with the process and are able to give the best possible account of their experience. These might include conducting interviews in makeshift dens with toys in the room.” |