Scottish Government

ISBN 978 0 7559 6394 2
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Contents

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations

Executive Summary
The evaluation
Main findings
Main conclusions
Advantages of recording
Key issues
Improving quality

Chapter One Introduction
Background
The evaluation
Draft national good practice guidance on visual recording
Evaluation approach and research methods
Seeking the views of children
Structure of the report

Chapter Two Context for Visual Recording
Numbers of children in the Scottish justice system
Scottish law on visually recorded evidence
Scottish policy on interviewing children
Legislation, practice and evaluation in England and Wales
International policy on visual recording of child witness interviews
Allowing children choice
Summary and implications for national roll out

Chapter Three The Dundee and Glasgow Pilots
History of the visual recording pilots in Scotland
Dundee pilot
Glasgow pilot
New facility in Tayside
Local contexts
National steering group
Operational protocols
Summary and implications for national roll out

Chapter Four Visually Recording Interviews
Interviews conducted
Planning the interview
Conducting the interview
Characteristics and circumstances of the children interviewed
Following the interviewing guidance
Quality of recordings
After the interview
Summary and implications for national roll out

Chapter Five Sharing the Visual Recordings
Use by fiscals and in prosecution precognition
Use by the defence and in defence precognition
Use of recordings by the children's reporter
Use of recordings outwith the immediate investigation
Transcription
Physical transfer
Summary and implications for national roll out

Chapter Six Recordings as Evidence
Recordings used as evidence in court
Practitioner views on recordings as evidence
Editing
Why are more recordings not being used in court?
Recordings used in children's hearings referrals to the sheriff
Summary and implications for national rollout

Chapter Seven Training & Practice
Training recommendations in the national interviewing guidance
National training curriculum
The nature of joint training in the pilots
More advanced training
Developing and improving skills
National competency framework
The pool of staff to be trained
Staff turnover
Training for legal professionals viewing recordings
Summary and implications for national rollout

Chapter Eight Conclusions and Costs Estimates
Main evaluation findings
Main conclusions
Summary of the draft national good practice guidance
Estimates of costs of rollout

References
Annex 1 Full List of Evaluation Objectives
Annex 2 Evaluation Design and Methods
Evaluation design
Desk-based work
Fieldwork
Collection and analysis of pilot data
Interviews
Expert panels
Developing the draft national good practice guidance
Annex 3 Research Instruments
Data collection pro forma for pilot records
Agenda and discussion points for panel meetings
Interview topic guides
Annex 4 JIIT National Curriculum
Annex 5 Draft Action Plan for The NSGAnnex 6 National Steering Group & Research Advisory Group Members

List of Tables and Figures
Figure 3.1 Dundee interview room, with camera on tripod
Figure 3.2 Glasgow interview room, cameras, and microphone (on coffee table)
Figure 3.3 Arbroath equipment
Figure 3.4 Arbroath control and interview rooms
Table 3.1 Key characteristics of the pilots
Table 3.2 Comparison of pilot protocols
Table 4.1 Numbers of interviews conducted and recorded by pilot
Figure 4.1 Interviews conducted and recorded in the first two years
Table 4.2 Interviews not recorded; reasons given (200 case sample)
Table 4.3 Characteristics of children whose interviews were recorded/not recorded
Table 4.4 Pre-briefings held (200 case sample)
Table 4.5 Characteristics and circumstances of children (200 case sample)
Figure 4.2 Ages of children interviewed (200 case sample)
Figure 4.3 Relationship recorded between child and alleged offender (200 case sample)
Table 4.6 Supporters present during interviews (200 case sample)
Table 4.7 Disclosure during interviews (200 case sample)
Figure 4.4 Disclosure rates in recorded/not recorded interviews (200 case sample)
Table 4.8 Post-briefings held (200 case sample)
Table 4.9 Previous interviews held (200 case sample)
Table 5.1 Cases substantiated and passed on to other agencies
Table 5.2 Cases passed on to other agencies (200 case sample)
Table 5.3 Recordings viewed by the PF and reporter
Table 5.4 Number of cases with recordings shown in court or reporter proceedings
Figure 5.1 Use of recordings by fiscals; summary
Figure 5.2 Use of recordings by reporters; summary
Table 5.5 Transcripts requested
Figure 7.1 Interviewers trained and frequency of interviews conducted, Tayside
Table 7.1 Staff in post and turnover, by pilot
Table 8.1 Costs summary; costs associated with roll-out of visual recording
Table 8.2 Possible additional costs

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.