MP Demands Reformation of Rules on Cross-Examination of Children

Labour MP Anne Coffey is to call for the establishment of a commission that will look into reforming existing rules on the cross-examination of children and vulnerable witnesses in court.

Anne Coffey, MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Missing Children, has drawn attention to a number of high-profile sex abuse cases in which defence barristers have manipulated child victims and vulnerable witnesses to portray them as liars, thereby securing the freedom of their defendants. Frances Andrade committed suicide after giving evidence in court against her attacker.

Such instances demonstrate how the witness/victim is not protected in court, and also places the quality of the evidence attained in court at stake.

The Ministry of Justice has set up initiatives that involve pre-recording interviews for child sex abuse cases. Other suggestions for reformation include the use of ‘registered intermediaries’ who are able to question the witnesses from a position of neutrality.

Such specialists are already used to a great extent in France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Norway. They are currently only used in a small percentage of cases in the UK.

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