5 September 2005
World experts attend child witnesses conference
Some of the world's leading experts on the investigative interviewing of child witnesses have
gathered in Edinburgh for a major conference organised by the University of Dundee.
The conference, "Investigating Interviewing of Child Witnesses - Taking Stock and Looking Forward"
will explore many of the issues at the heart of one of the most sensitive areas of social work and
law.
Around 100 delegates - among them police and social work practitioners from Scotland, England, the
USA and Europe - are attending the event, which is being staged at the Murrayfield Stadium
Conference Centre in Edinburgh from today until Wednesday (September 5th to 7th).
The conference was opened by Elish Angiolini QC, Solicitor General for Scotland, who said the
event allowed the sharing of best practice from around the globe.
Mrs Angiolini said, "Giving evidence is a crucial element of the criminal justice process, but can
be a very difficult experience, especially for young and vulnerable witnesses.
"Clearly children and young people will have their own particular concerns about the experience,
and we owe it to them to ensure that we have the best skills and that we do what we can to make the
whole experience less intimidating. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to share best
practice and learn from colleagues in other countries."
Keynote speakers include some of the leading experts in the field of child investigative interview
practice from both sides of the Atlantic, among them Lucy Berliner, director of the Harborview
Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress in Seattle, and Professor Michael Lamb, of the
Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge.
Child investigative interview practice in Scotland is currently undergoing some positive
development. National guidance is now available, implementation of the vulnerable witnesses
legislation has commenced and there are ongoing pilot projects for visually recorded interviews.
The conference is therefore being staged at a time when there is considerable scope for reflection,
taking stock and looking forward to future developments.
"We believe this is a good time to explore some of the issues currently affecting policy, practice
and research from both sides of the Atlantic in this field of investigative interviewing of
children and young people," said Brigid Daniel, Professor of Child Care and Protection at the
Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Dundee.
"There is great value in professionals from different areas in law and social work working
together and being trained together in a complementary fashion.
"Children must be offered a sensitive and supportive environment in which to recount their
traumatic experiences. Our aim is to improve the protection of children by ensuring that
professionals work together effectively and offer children the opportunity to be listened to."
The conference will allow practitioners and managers in Scotland to network together and with
colleagues from other countries to contribute towards the development of best practice.
NOTE TO EDITORS.
Professor Brigid Daniel will be available for interview at the conference at the Murrayfield
Conference Centre at 9 am, Monday September 5th.
Since 1998 the University of Dundee, in conjunction with the American Professional Society on the
Abuse of Children (APSAC) and the Scottish Police College, has delivered an annual Child Forensic
Interview Clinic in Dundee. Each year practitioners from Scotland and elsewhere in Europe have
taken part in what is a challenging but highly effective learning experience.
The clinic has focused on direct practice in the conduct of interviews and introduced
practitioners to advanced techniques and information.
The Conference is aimed at:
Police and social work practitioners who conduct investigative interviews of child witnesses and
victims Supervisors and managers of staff who conduct investigative interviews of child witnesses and
victims
Planners and policy makers in agencies and the Scottish Executive with responsibility
for investigative interviewing of child witnesses
Trainers and researchers in agencies and educational institutions with a particular focus in the
field of interviewing child witnesses and victims
Legal practitioners including the Scottish Childrens’ Reporters Association
By Roddy Isles, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, r.isles@dundee.ac.uk | 
