Visual Recording of Joint Investigative Interviews with Children
Joint Investigative Interviews (JIIs) with children are pre-planned interviews undertaken with a child by a trained police officer and social worker following allegations of child physical or sexual abuse. To achieve our aim of introducing visual recording of these interviews as best practice:
- Revised Guidance on Joint Investigative Interviewing of Child Witnesses in Scotland was published on 19 December 2011
- An Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Digital Project Manager was funded to purchase and roll-out visual recording equipment to police forces across Scotland. The roll-out of equipment is scheduled to be completed by March 2012
- Training requirements and delivery mechanisms were identified so that practitioners are ready to undertake visually recorded interviews which will be introduced between January and March 2012
Benefits of visually recording child interviews include reducing the number of times a child is interviewed and providing a more accurate record (with exact words and tone of voice and body language) which may be used in court as main evidence. The guidance emphasises that every decision made about interviewing a child must be made on the basis that the paramount consideration is the best interests of the child and takes account of:
- On The Record an independent evaluation of two police and social work led pilots undertaking visually recorded JIIs
- National Child Protection Guidance which sets out common standards for child protection services in Scotland
- EU legislation which regards visual recording of evidence from child witnesses as best practice
- Latest research and lessons learned from case judgements