CHILDREN'S EVIDENCE

EDM number 386 in 1993-94, proposed by Llin Golding on 19/01/1994.

That this House expresses its deep concern about the case of the 12 year old daughter of a policeman who in a letter to the Police Review magazine said that her experience in court was the worst day of her life when she was called to give evidence against a man who had attempted to abduct her; is concerned that although the Crown Prosecution Service denied her a video link-up but agreed the provision of screens all the way into the witness box so that she would not be seen by the accused, she discovered when it was time for her to give evidence that only one small screen was provided in the witness box and that she was called to stand in the middle of the court so the man could identify her; is further concerned that when giving evidence the accused was allowed to shout at her and that her home address was read out in court so that the accused now knows where she lives and will be able, she considers, to contact her when he is released from a mental hospital; and calls upon the Government to urgently review the protection of child victims and witnesses in court as recommended by the Judge Pigot inquiry into the giving of evidence by children in court.

This motion has been signed by a total of 90 MPs.