Link to Change Conference 27 th Feb 2015, Huntingdon Making Justice Work: For children and young people affected by sexual exploitation Dr. Camille Warrington & Dr. Helen Beckett

1.Rationale 2.Approach 3.Key lessons and findings 4.Areas for progress Making Justice Work

A response to priorities identified by young service users engaged in previous Centre work ‘What Works for Us’ network: priorities for change 2011 “a justice system that is appropriate to victims of child sexual exploitation and does not result in the re- traumatisation of those brave enough to go through it. approaches to policing which ensure that when young people make disclosures, or provide evidence to the police, they are believed and kept safe.” Project rationale - i Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“Identifying, disrupting and prosecuting perpetrators must be a key part of work to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation” (DCSF, 2009) “People don’t go to the police because when you got to the police it makes the situation 150 times worse. You have to go through it again and again.” CEOP, 2011 Project rationale - ii Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

1.Explore how investigative and prosecution processes are experienced by young people in cases relating to CSE? 2.Work with ‘experts by experience’ to identify opportunities for change and improvement 3.Also, explore the feasibility of involving service users ethically and safely within research on this topic & pilot potential methods for facilitating this. Project aims Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Centrality of young people’s voices Prioritising best interests of children and young people Informed by participatory practice In partnership with practitioners Exploring criminal justice process as a journey Focusing on opportunities for change The approach - Key principles Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Literature and policy review Participatory research with nine young ‘experts by experience’ Focus groups with 35 practitioners and strategic leads Thematic analysis Methodology Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

POLICECROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE (CPS)COURT SERVICE Investigating Charging ProsecutingSentencing Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research A young person’s journey through the CJS What comes before? What happens afterwards? What else is going on during this period?

The journey… Initial Questioning Forensic Medical Examination Crime Scene Evidence Gathering Giving a witness statement Achieving Best Evidence Interview Ongoing investigation and building a case Witness interviews Arrest of suspect Conversation between police and CPS NFA or submission of case to CPS Full code test and decision Preparing prosecution case Decision on special measures Court preparation Trial Outcome and sentencing

1.Professional attitudes and approaches 2.Communication 3.Wellbeing and support needs 4.A sense of control? 5.A sense of justice? 6.Translating policy and guidance into practice Thematic findings Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“She [the police officer] tried to blame my upbringing for the people that I was associating with..she kind of like blamed me for what had happened” (YP3A) Professional attitudes and approaches Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Recognising importance of initial engagements On-going prevalence of blaming/disrespectful interaction Differential treatment of young people Importance of recognising and understanding impact of abuse Prioritising victim welfare alongside investigative needs Professional attitudes and approaches Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“I didn’t get talked to about the jury. I didn’t know what a jury was back then. I didn’t ask about a jury, but nobody told me. I didn’t know what they were or what they would do.” (YP1D) “Sometimes you have to keep retelling your story over and over again to different police officers” (YP1D) Communication Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Need for regular, timely communication Greater clarity required - avoidance of jargon Explaining why things happen (as well as what and when) Greater consistency in personnel Less onus on young people to seek information Communication Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“I was just sat at home, missing school, just like watching TV. I felt physically sick” (YP1C) “Some of these children are absolutely on their knees they’re so traumatised, and to stop them from having therapy for at least a year while something goes to prosecution – that’s wrong” (P2R) Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research Wellbeing and support needs

Impact on multiple areas of young people’s lives Impact on wider family and carers Need for advocacy (throughout process and beyond) Removing barriers to (pre-trial) therapeutic support Importance of post court (or NFA) response Recognising impact on witnesses, as well as victims Wellbeing and support needs Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“I was basically a puppet. When they wanted me, I had to do it. When they didn’t want me, I heard nothing” (YP2B) A sense of control? Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Process described by young people as: ‘Disempowering’ ‘Isolating’ ‘Stigmatising’ Need to: Avoid replicating loss of control that characterises abusive experiences Recognise evolving capacity of adolescents & need for different engagement methods to younger children Make decisions ‘with’ not ‘for’ A sense of control? Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

“You go through all this - having to relive what happened, through your interviews, for them to turn around and say ‘nah, we’re not going to take it any further. Devastating – it is devastating.” (YP3B) A sense of justice? Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Need to address absence of perceived justice especially where: NFA (‘no further action’ decisions by police or CPS) Charges are reduced or dropped Different victims in multiple victim cases receive differential treatment and outcomes Sentences are not felt by young people to reflect severity of crime Sentencing decisions are not explained A sense of justice? Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

The majority of young people’s ‘big asks’ are feasible – indeed recommended - within current policy and guidance context BUT Current guidance and policy needs to be more consistently applied – across and within forces/areas Good practice needs to become less dependent on individuals’ knowledge and commitment Need to identify and address barriers to implementation Implementation of policy and guidance Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

Evidence that things can be different Met many committed supportive professionals within all services working for change Examples provided by young people and professionals when things worked well and/or young people felt supported Professionals keen to learn, make changes and improve young people’s experiences Young people committed to supporting those changes OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE… Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research

1.Specialist training and on-going professional development 2.Ensuring access to single point of communication for all victims and witnesses 3.Facilitating access to independent support during process 4.Removing barriers to accessing pre-trial therapy 5.Increasing access to complaints procedures 6.Increased involvement of young people in planning and decision-making 7.Guaranteed direct feedback on case outcomes 8.Exploration of barriers to implementation of effective/recommended practice Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research Areas for progress

web Contact Preliminary findings from Making Justice Work Pilot Research