Can police interview DSS without us there?

[MuckingFuppet]

Hi, regular poster under NC.

DSS1 has been sexually assaulted by his mother's partner, I'll call him Bob. Bob we now know is a registered sex offender. The police want to interview DSS1 at school, we don't want this as he will be terrified. His previous contact with police/child protection was traumatic enough, we want to be with him.

Can police go against our wishes? Why would they do it at school anyway?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

No idea as to why they would do it at school however, usually if under 18 an Appropriate Adult is needed (for interviewing a minor).

It need not be the child's parent or Guardian.

Thanks caramel. It's just that we know how awful it was for him before and want him to feel as safe as possible.

The police will want to do what is in the best interests of the investigation, which unfortunately isn't always in the short term best interests of the child. However, in my experience they normally have someone trained to do the interview and often have someone from child and family services present, e.g. a Social Worker.

They will want to interview him on neutral territory albeit somewhere familiar (hence the school) so that he is as comfortable as possible in the circumstances.

They are not required, under the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984, to have an Appropriate Adult present for victims or witnesses. AAs are for alleged offenders under the age of 17 or for people who are vulnerable due to mental health needs.

I'm so, so sorry this has happened to your DSS and to your family.

Thanks Lula, that pretty much answers my question. It doesn't seem right though.

No, it doesn't feel right at all and i imagine you must be beside yourselves with concern and worry. However, in terms of getting to a prosecution let alone a conviction, the police have to follow fairly strict procedures so that a defence solicitor cannot pick holes in the case.

Sending hugs... I don't care if that is un-Mumsnetty xx

Yes. UnMumsnetty hugs x

It sounds like a nightmare. Hope it all works out (understatement). Your DSS will know that you are there for him and you will soon be able to be with him for support.

Believe me, they aren't out to scare him, they need the interview to go as smoothly as possible so as not to screw up conviction. They want to nail him. Go to the school and wait for him to comfort hm after.

You've mentioned that your dss has had previous contact with police/child protection services. Was that in connection with this matter or another?

Frankly, I'm horrified that the police are proposing to interview your dss at his school, presumably in school time, where he may have to miss lessons and return to his class/home room in a distressed state of mind which will no doubt be compounded by wondering whether his classmates have been speculating on his absence.

Your dss's father should tell the police that he's happy for his ds to be interviewed in a neutral and preferably child friendly environment, but his school is off bounds as he may well feel an aversion to returning to it if he becomes extremely distressed when making his statement.

I suspect they've suggested your dss's school because of the availability of a supply of appropriate adults that are known to him to sit in on the interview. If this is the case, it may cause your dss further distress if he feels that his teachers/the school 'know' about matters he'd rather keep private and confidential.

The reason that they don't want you there is that they need him to be honest as possible. If you or anyone else is there he may not talk so openly so as not to upset you.
I'm sorry your dss is is going though this.

Thanks all. Izzy - yes the contact was in relation to the same thing.