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Television New Zealand
April 6 1993
C/A I/V
Primetime
Reporter Maggie Barry
Precis
Anne Caton, Social Welfare programme manager and Michael Marris,
child and family expert debate the system involved in child abuse cases
following today's acquittal of child abuse charges against Christchurch Civic
Child Care Centre creche workers.
Shotlist
00:00 I/V Anne Caton, Social Welfare Programme
Manager for the Young Persons, Children and Their Families National Office
debating with Michael Marris the system involved in child abuse cases
highlighted by today's acquittal of child abuse charges against Christchurch
Civic Child Care Centre creche workers re I don't think there are particular
problems with the system, child sexual abuse by its very nature is difficult
to deal with, it's important to get it right for the child's safety and for
the accused, but we are relying on the child's word, about something that
happens in secret.
I/V Michael Marris, child and family expert re my issue is with the level of
clinical expertise which appears lacking in Social Welfare who has limited
resources and also in the Family Court system, the Christchurch ladies today
are victims of lack of clinical expertise and are lucky their charges weren't
heard behind the closed doors of the Family Court.
I/V Anne Caton re the time frame in the court system is of concern to
everybody involved, children who are witnesses have to relive a difficult and
painful time of their lives again, differences between Family Court and
criminal court.
I/V Michael Marris re one should treat the allegations (raised in the Christchurch case) with
enormous caution, this has not been done, there's been enormous publicity, so
that the children and today's acquitted women have become victims.
I/V Anne Caton re the decision to press criminal charges is a police
decision.
I/V Michael Marris interrupting re that's a real cop-out, that's saying the
department isn't responsible for its clinical workers, and it must be.
I/V Anne Caton re any child sexual abuse is dealt with jointly by the police
and our service to ensure the protection and criminal elements are dealt
with, if we do the interview, we get the child to tell the story clearly and
simply, that is accountable evidence on video or audio tape, our job is to do
the interview well.
I/V Anne Caton re there is always room for improvement and development and
people work hard to increase skills.
I/V Michael Marris re we must improve our clinical expertise, they must know
about children, family dynamics and the whole psychology of human operation .
5:52 END.
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