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One step forward and two steps back? The “20 Principles” for questioning vulnerable witnesses and the lack of an evidence-based approach

Cooper, Penelope and Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T. and Mattison, M. and Marchant, R. and Milne, R. and Bull, R. (2018) One step forward and two steps back? The “20 Principles” for questioning vulnerable witnesses and the lack of an evidence-based approach. The International Journal of Evidence & Proof , ISSN 1365-7127.

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Abstract

It is a widely held belief that questioning vulnerable witnesses is a specialist skill. In England and Wales vulnerable witness advocacy training built around ‘20 Principles’ has been developed and is being delivered. The 20 Principles do not cite a tested theoretical framework(s) or empirical evidence in support. This paper considers whether the 20 Principles are underpinned by research evidence. It is submitted that advocacy training and the approach to questioning witnesses in the courtroom should take into account the already available research evidence. The authors make recommendations for revision of the training and for a wider review of the approach taken to the handling of witness evidence.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Keyword(s) / Subject(s): advocacy, questioning, training, vulnerable, witnesses
School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Research Centres and Institutes: Crime & Justice Policy Research, Institute for
Depositing User: Penny Cooper
Date Deposited: 21 Aug 2018 09:18
Last Modified: 15 Apr 2025 20:04
URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/23645

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