Expert Witness
Achieving Best Evidence Video Recorded Interviews:
Video Recorded or Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) Interviews have tended to be seen only in terms of criminal proceedings. The Family Courts have recognised that in Family Proceedings, children often wish to have their evidence heard by a Judge. Increasingly, the courts are ordering Video Recorded Interviews with children and young people. Craig Barlow Consultancy and training provides expertise in providing quality interviews that adhere to the Achieving Best Evidence Guidance and The Victim's Code.
Re: W Assessments
The Family Justice Council has published guidelines, prepared by the Working Party chaired by Lord Justice Thorpe, the Deputy Head of Family Justice, on the issue of children giving live evidence in the Family Courts.
The Supreme Court reformulated the approach a family court should take when exercising its discretion to decide whether to order a child to give live evidence in family proceedings.
Craig Barlow undertakes Assessments, in accordance with Lord Justice Thorpe's Working Party guidelines, to advise the Court with regard to a child's ability to give evidence, any special measures that may benefit the child in giving live evidence, and to ascertain whether giving live evidence might be contrary to the child's best interests and cause undue stress.