Child witnesses need Government support - Brooke

10.43.37am GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Annette is a Parliamentary Ambassador for the NSPCC

Local MP, Annette Brooke, has joined the NSPCC in calling on Government to ensure that all child witnesses have the support they need to bring abusers to justice.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families, has joined over 80 other Members of Parliament who have already signed a parliamentary motion championing the campaign to support child witnesses.

Every year, 29,000 children - some as young as five - give evidence in court.1 Many fail to get proper services to support them through the confusion and distress of appearing as a witness. Some children say the experience is as traumatic as the abuse they have suffered. The NSPCC says more money is needed to improve services in England and Wales, which are inconsistent and under-funded.

Courtroom processes can confuse and intimidate children, whose evidence is often crucial in convicting offenders. An NSPCC and Victim Support survey of 50 child witnesses revealed that half did not understand the words or phrases being used in court and almost as many had been accused of lying under cross-examination.

One 14-year-old girl said:

"I was anxious and scared about going to court and felt intimidated by the defendant. It was difficult to sleep and eat in the weeks before the trial. I started self-harming and was treated for depression by my GP."

Annette Brooke, who is also a Parliamentary Ambassador for the NSPCC, said:

"I am concerned about the welfare of child witnesses who bravely attempt to bring offenders to justice.

"I recently visited a local video conferencing facility run by Dorset Victim Support where good work was being done, but more investment was needed.

"I hope that the Government recognises the importance of child witness support and provides the necessary means to improve services for these courageous young people."

NSPCC director and chief executive Dame Mary Marsh said:

"Abused children have already suffered horrific experiences. Facing court can reopen old wounds. Without support they are left vulnerable and ill-equipped to face interrogation in court and provide robust evidence to convict their abuser and achieve justice."

The NSPCC is asking its 80,000 campaigners and members of the public to help lobby for government action to support child witnesses. If you want to join the campaign please visit www.nspcc.org.uk/campaigning

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. January 14, 2004 Victim Support Briefing on Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Bill for House of Lords Grand Committee.

2. All child witnesses receive full support in Crown Courts in Northern Ireland, where support services for young witnesses are government funded.

3. In their own words: The experiences of 50 young witnesses in criminal court proceedings, Joyce Plotnikoff & Richard Woolfson, NSPCC and Victim Support, 2004

About the NSPCC's campaign

The NSPCC is asking its supporters to lobby Government to ensure that all child witnesses get support to help them through the criminal justice process, no matter where they live, enabling them to give their best evidence and to achieve justice.

· Campaigners will be asked to send a postcard to Baroness Scotland, Minister for Justice at the Home Office;

· MPs will be asked to sign Early Day Motion (EDM 739);

· Members of the public are invited to sign up in support of the campaign at www.nspcc.org.uk/campaigning

About the NSPCC Young Witness Services

The NSPCC has seven young witness support services, in Northern Ireland (where government funding has ensured a comprehensive service is provided for all young witnesses), Cheshire, Devon & Cornwall, Essex, Hull, Surrey and Swansea. Collectively, these projects support around 900 children each year.

The services support to the young person, before, during and after the trial, including meetings at the child's home and a pre-trial court visit to understand procedures and familiarise them with any TV link equipment. During the trial, the young witness is accompanied into the court room or TV link room by a volunteer Young Witness Supporter or the Young Witness Worker. The NSPCC also provides assessments to the court about the capacity and needs of the young witness. Post-trial follow-up work includes debriefing the young witness and their parents/guardians, and addressing onward referral issues, such as counselling or post-abuse treatment.

The NSPCC's Young Witness Services aim to:

· reduce the stress experienced by children and young people who may have to give evidence in court

· prevent further trauma that may be caused by their experience of the court and legal processes

· ensure, where possible, that the needs of young witnesses in general are given full and appropriate attention by the criminal justice system and professionals working in that system.

Other young witness support services

In 2005/06 Victim Support's Witness Services supported 28,959 children, of which 22% (6,436) were aged 14 or under. Other services providers include Barnardo's, Sussex Social Services and a consortium of Local Safeguarding Boards in Humberside.