Vulnerable Adult and Child Witnesses

The treatment of vulnerable witnesses is an area which has seen great change over the past 20 years. The 1989 Pigot report made a variety of recommendations and suggestions for improvement and this marked the early stages of this process of change. This book is designed to be an invaluable, practical source of help to all those working in the complex area of vulnerable witnesses. It is structured to follow the chronology of an investigation from the first steps of identifying a vulnerable witness through to trial and includes helpful case studies with examples outlining potential pitfalls during the investigation and possible solutions. The book covers key topics such as identifying vulnerable witnesses, protection of vulnerable witnesses throughout the criminal justice process, pre-interview contact, assessing competence, multi-agency working, interviewing and pre-trial preparation. The treatment of vulnerable witnesses by police investigators and others involved in the criminal justice system is likely to come under increased scrutiny in the future with the Victims' Code of Practice and the Witness Charter. This book considers the many changes and new documentation in the area including the Victims and Witnesses' Commission, the revised edition of 'Achieving Best Evidence' and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Code of Practice. This book is an essential guide and reference. The Blackstone's Practical Policing Series is a collection of highly practical, up-to-date titles covering a range of essential subjects in today's policing arena. Developed from a detailed understanding of police information needs, this series seeks to explain the relevant law, practice and procedure from a police officer's perspective. The first practical guide in this area, with all relevant systems and methods explained in one accessible volume.

INTRODUCTION ; FIRST STEPS ; 1. Identifying and intimidated witnesses ; 2. Initial action ; THE INVESTIGATION ; 3. Offences commonly experienced by vulnerable witnesses ; 4. Human Trafficking ; 5. Multi-agency working ; 6. Special Measures ; 7. Consent: Whose decision is it anyway? ; 8. Competence and compellability ; 9. Medical Examinations ; 10. Witness Interview Strategies ; 11. Planning and Preparing for Interviews ; 12. Conducting Interviews ; 13. Storage and Retention of recordings ; 14. Ongoing Protection Orders ; 15. Witness Intimidation ; POST-CHARGE ; 16. Pre-trial therapy ; 17. What's on the Horizon? ; 18. On-going contact ; 19. Pre-trial preparation ; TRIAL ; 20. Court supporters ; THE FUTURE