ABE in Criminal Proceedings - Interview Training (5 days)

Aim:

• To demonstrate the role of a lead interviewer in accordance with Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings. To raise awareness of and explore issues around joint child protection enquiries and examine the different roles of the professionals within these investigations.
• To explain all aspects of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses under the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and examine all the elements of an investigative interview in accordance with Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the training the participants will be able to;

• Explain the importance of close working relationships with fellow professionals in child protection enquiries particularly where the case/investigation is complex
• Summarise the multi-agency response to child protection investigations
• Describe the key elements of Working Together 2015 that are directly relevant to professionals undertaking complex child abuse enquiries or investigations
• Outline the roles and responsibilities and appropriate thresholds for referral
• Explain the process of referral of cases to/from the police
• Explain the function and importance of strategy meetings/discussions
• Recognise the importance of questioning and challenging other professionals involved in the investigation
• State how to record and justify key decisions made within the case
• Define a vulnerable and intimidated victim/witness in accordance with the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999
• State the special measures potentially available to child victims and witnesses under the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999
• Identify relevant factors to take into consideration when planning an interview with a child victim/witness and state how these factors may affect an interview
• State the essential components of the rapport phase of a ABE interview
• State the principles of covering points to prove within a criminal investigation interview
• Explain how to request a free narrative/free recall from a child victim witness interviewee
• Explain what types of questions are recognised as being forensically appropriate within a child victim/witness video interview
• State the types of questions that should be avoided within a child victim/witness video interview
• Explain the features of the closure phase of a child victim/witness video interview
• State the current legal position regarding child competency in the courtroom
• Explain the importance of interview plans
• Explain the techniques and principles of cognitive interviewing
• Identify the use of summaries and how the use of summaries and their application needs to be balanced between the needs of the interview and adducing the interview as an evidential product
• Explain the co-interviewer’s role in taking contemporaneous notes during an ABE interview
• Explain the difference between case specific and heart of the matter topics within an ABE interview

TARGET AUDIENCE: This course is only available to Herefordshire Council, Children and Young People Directorate and is directed at Social Workers and Social Care Managers