Child Youth And Family
Media Release
March 13, 2001
Child, Youth And Family Interviewers Vindicated
Eichelbaum report vindicates Child, Youth and
Family Interviewers
The professionalism
of Child, Youth and Family’s evidential interviewers in the Christchurch
civic crèche case has been strongly upheld by the Eichelbaum report, says
chief social worker Shannon Pakura.
“One of Child, Youth and Family’s key roles in the case was to interview the
children about what had happened to them. Police then studied the evidence
gathered before making a decision whether to prosecute.
“Child, Youth and Family interviewers, then and now, are always very aware of
the need to gather evidence carefully so that the process is not unfair to an
alleged offender.
“The Eichelbaum report shows two eminent international experts were clear
that our interviewers in the civic crèche case did their jobs to a high
standard. It is a tribute to their professionalism and the compassion they
bring to their jobs.”
Ms Pakura hopes the report will help shift the focus of attention away from
Peter Ellis and on to the children involved in the case.
“We shouldn’t forget that they are the victims, not Ellis. This report
vindicates them too. I hope it will help them deal with any ongoing effects
of the abuse they suffered.”
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