relation to disclosing or revealing the identity (section 186(2)). Some limited exceptions of a mandatory reporter to a law enforcement are provided, for example, where agency. disclosing the identity is for notifier’s purposes related to functions being performed under the Child Protection Act 1999 (section 186(2)(a)), or by way of evidence given in a legal proceeding under subsections 186(3) and (4). The intent of the protection of notifier confidentiality is to encourage people to report a concern about a child to Child Safety without fear of their identity being disclosed, to protect notifiers who have made a report from possible retaliation, and to help professionals to maintain positive (and often protective) working relationships with children and families. Accept in principle Each Australian government should ensure Current Queensland Police Service that its policing agency conducts investigative practices are consistent with this interviewing in relation to reports of child recommendation, and the Queensland sexual abuse, including institutional child Police Service has investigators who sexual abuse, in accordance with the following provide a specialist policing response to principles: child victims. All police who provide an investigative response (whether specialist or The Queensland Police Service will generalist) to child sexual abuse review current training resources to should receive at least basic training ensure they meet all recommended in understanding sexual offending, requirements. including the nature of child sexual abuse and institutional child sexual Part (j) of this recommendation is related abuse offending. to the establishment of an intermediary All police who provide an investigative scheme under recommendations 59 and response (whether specialist or 60, which require further consideration. generalist) to child sexual abuse should be trained to interview the complainant in accordance with current research and learning about how memory works in order to obtain the memory of the complainant’s events. The importance of video recorded interviews for children and other vulnerable witnesses should be recognised, as these interviews usually form all, or most, of the and other relevant complainant’s evidence in chief in any witnesses’ prosecution. Investigative interviewing of children and other vulnerable witnesses should be undertaken by police with
relation to disclosing or revealing the identity of a mandatory reporter to a law enforcement agency. (section 186(2)). Some limited exceptions are provided, for example, where disclosing the notifier’s identity is for purposes related to functions being performed under the Child Protection Act 1999 (section 186(2)(a)), or by way of evidence given in a legal proceeding under subsections 186(3) and (4). The intent of the protection of notifier confidentiality is to encourage people to report a concern about a child to Child Safety without fear of their identity being disclosed, to protect notifiers who have made a report from possible retaliation, and to help professionals to maintain positive (and often protective) working relationships with children and families. Each Australian government should ensure that its policing agency conducts investigative interviewing in relation to reports of child sexual abuse, including institutional child sexual abuse, in accordance with the following principles: All police who provide an investigative response (whether specialist or generalist) to child sexual abuse should receive at least basic training in understanding sexual offending, including the nature of child sexual abuse and institutional child sexual abuse offending. All police who provide an investigative response (whether specialist or generalist) to child sexual abuse should be trained to interview the complainant in accordance with current research and learning about how memory works in order to obtain the complainant’s memory of the events. The importance of video recorded interviews for children and other vulnerable witnesses should be recognised, as these interviews usually form all, or most, of the complainant’s and other relevant witnesses’ evidence in chief in any prosecution. Investigative interviewing of children and other vulnerable witnesses should be undertaken by police with Accept in principle Current Queensland Police Service practices are consistent with this recommendation, and the Queensland Police Service has investigators who provide a specialist policing response to child victims. The Queensland Police Service will review current training resources to ensure they meet all recommended requirements. Part (j) of this recommendation is related to the establishment of an intermediary scheme under recommendations 59 and 60, which require further consideration.
gov-response-royal-commision-child-abuse.docx