Scottish Government

GUIDANCE ON INTERVIEWING CHILD WITNESSES IN SCOTLAND -
Supporting Child Witnesses Guidance Pack

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CONTENTS

FOREWORDS
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
PART 2: BACKGROUND
Aims of the guidance
Definition of the 'Investigative Interview'
Investigative versus therapeutic goals and techniques
The guidance and training
PART 3: PLANNING THE INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEW
Purpose of interview
The interviewers
Location of interview
Timing of interview
Number and duration of interviews
Issue of consent
Recording of interview
Other persons present at interview
Non-disclosure 20
PART 4: CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW
The phases of the interview
Introductions and explaining purpose
Rapport Phase: establishing a child-centred interview
Interview atmosphere
Ground rules
Telling the truth
Rapport building with a practice interview
Raising topic of concern
Page
Free narrative
Questioning
Style of questions
Open-ended questions
Specific questions
Closed questions
Leading questions
Content of questions
Closure phase
Debriefing and further interviews
Props
Other interviewing techniques
PART 5: SPECIAL NEEDS
Disabilities and illnesses
Very young children
When the child's first language is not English
Ethnicity
When the child witness becomes a suspect
PART 6: FURTHER READING AND REFERENCES
APPENDICES
A Sample interview protocols
B Quick Guide - Conducting the investigative interview
C Members of the steering group
Wider Programme of Work on Vulnerable and Child Witnesses