[Written title saying “Evidential Videos: What to expect on the day of the interview]
[Ara, a girl around 13 years old is standing outside a building and walks towards the camera while talking. Two children enter the building behind Ara.]
Kia ora. I’m Ara. And this video will introduce you to the people and what will happen when your child comes for an evidential video interview. Come with me.
[Ara signals for the camera to follow her into the building. The camera follows Ara and shows a cameraman filming Maylene, the Social Worker (woman with Oranga Tamariki identification around her neck) and Ryan, the Detective (man with Police identification around his neck). The camera moves to show Maylene and Ryan’s faces up close with patterned pictures behind them. A panel at the bottom of the screen names Maylene Jennings with the Oranga Tamariki logo.
Talofa. I am Maylene, social worker for Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children.
[The camera moves to show Maylene’s face only.]
Oranga Tamariki is the New Zealand child protection agency, working to ensure the safety of children. Anyone can report concerns to Oranga Tamariki if they are worried about children and that can include things like abuse, neglect, children witnessing family harm or witnessing a serious crime.
[The camera zooms out to include Ryan alongside Maylene. A panel at the bottom of the screen names Ryan Blair with the Police logo.]
I’m Ryan, detective with the Child Protection Team, New Zealand Police. Child Protection Teams investigate abuse, neglect and serious harm of children and young people.
[The camera zooms in to show Ryan’s face only.]
Police and Oranga Tamariki work together, to make children and young people safe, gather information about what has happened and investigate. Many times, whanau will be asked to support their tamariki to complete an evidential video, so that we can hear their story and are able to gather important evidence and information.
[The camera zooms out to include Ryan alongside Maylene.]
Maylene: Ryan and I have the same job as the people you will meet on the day of your child’s interview. They are the social worker who will visit to find out what happened and how to keep your child safe, [the camera moves to show Maylene’s face only.] the specialist interviewer who will speak with you child at the interview unit, and the monitor or the police officer who will listen to the interview, find out what else they need to know and then start the investigation into what has happened.
[The camera zooms out to include Ryan alongside Maylene.]
Maylene: They will meet with you after the interview to tell you how it has gone and what will happen next. It’s really important that you’re able to support your child through this process. [The camera moves to show Maylene’s face only.] And if you need help with this, please speak to your child’s social worker, the police officer or arrange to bring someone who is trusted by your child to do this for you.
[The camera zooms out to include Ryan alongside Maylene.]
Ryan: New Zealand laws allow children and young people’s information to be recorded on video, to present in Court as their evidence of what happened.
Maylene: This highlights the needs of children and young people as vulnerable victims and witnesses. [The camera moves to show Maylene’s face only.] And records their information first hand, and also will reduce any difficulties for them in Court.
[The camera zooms out to include Ryan alongside Maylene.]
Ryan: The recording of your tamariki’s interview is look after and secured by the police throughout the investigation. [The camera moves to show Ryan’s face only]. Referral for interview of your tamariki is made by either the social worker or police officer. As a parent, guardian or custodial caregiver, Oranga Tamariki will ask you to assist with or consent to the interview proceeding. [The camera zooms out to include Maylene alongside Ryan.] This promotes the need for adults to be informed and to then support their tamariki.
[The screen shows an Oranga Tamariki Evidential Interview Consent Form example with a blank yellow panel to the side of the screen while Maylene is talking.]
Maylene: A consent form will be used when we speak with you.
[The consent form moves over to the right side of the screen, while the following white writing come onto the screen as Maylene talks about them:
- Your permission to speak to your child or young person
- The use of a subsequent investigation and by whom
- The storage and security of the video.]
The consent form covers your permission to speak with your child or young person, the use of the video in a subsequent investigation and by whom, the storage and security of the video recording.
[The screen changes to show a green panel on the right side of the screen, with a picture of a Police DVD. On the left hand panel, the following white writing comes onto the screen as Ryan talks:
- The video is the property of the New Zealand Police
- If the investigation proceeds to Court, the video may be used in Court as the child’s main evidence
- The child will still need to appear in Court so the judge and lawyers can ask questions about what they told in their interview
- Application may be made for the child to be available on close circuit TV or have screens when this questioning occurs
- The video will be kept for a minimum of seven years and may be used in any future Court proceedings.]
Ryan: The video is the property of the New Zealand Police. If the investigation proceeds to Court, the video may be used in Court as the child’s main evidence. The child will still need to appear in Court so the judge and lawyers can ask questions about what they said in their interview. Application may be made for the child to be available on close circuit TV or have screens when this questioning occurs. The video will be kept for a minimum of seven years and may be used in any future Court proceedings.
[There is a close up of Maylene walking outside towards the camera with a background showing the outside of buildings.]
Maylene: Interviews are arranged by appointment. So you and your tamariki will be expected and will need to check in at reception. [A full screen picture of the reception area of an Oranga Tamariki office is displayed and signs that are in the Oranga Tamariki office showing pictures of children and their whanau.] It is really important for your child that what has been planned for today happens in a calm and organised way to reduce any anxiety or worry for them. [Maylene is seen walking again outside towards the camera with a background showing the outside of buildings.] You will then be introduced to the interviewer who will be speaking with your tamariki. At some interview units, the interviewer may want to get an update from you about how things are with your child and if there is anything special they need to consider before speaking with them.
[There is a close up of Ryan walking towards the camera with a background of a park.]
Ryan: This could be very helpful if it hasn’t already been discussed with the social worker.
[There is a close up of Maylene walking towards the camera outside with a trampoline in the background on the right side of the screen.]
Maylene: Then they will take you through to the interview unit to explain how things work and invite you to ask any questions you or your child may have.
[A photo of an interview unit is shown with a purples couch, a table with a black box on it (microphone), two chairs and a cabinet with children’s playdough, felt pens and paper.]
Interview units each look a little different.
[A photo is shown of a closed door saying “Kakapo” and a red sign with write writing saying “INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS”]
But all interview rooms will have much of the same stuff in them, including a table, a microphone and a camera.
[A photo of the interview room is shown again briefly and then a photo of the same reception area on the left side of the screen, with the rest of the photo showing cushioned chairs.]
There will also be a waiting area and a monitor’s room.
[The monitor’s room is shown briefly which has two computer screens and two black boxes with headphones attached on a table. There are two chairs under the table.]
[Ryan is walking in the playground towards the camera with a trampoline to the left side of the screen.]
Ryan: You will also meet the person who monitors the interview.
[A closer photo of the monitor’s room is shown with 1 computer screen, a black box showing a DVD player that records, felt pens and playdough.]
Remember it’s that person who is listening to the interview, taking notes, and looking after the equipment.
[A photo of a different room with a computer screen, keyboard, DVD player and headphones hanging on the wall is shown.]
There will be a police person or someone else trained to do this job.
[There is a close up of Maylene walking towards the camera outside with a trampoline in the background on the right side of the screen.]
Maylene: It is important to be careful about what you talk about in front of your tamariki, as some things are best to talk about amongst adults only.
[A photo of the Oranga Tamariki Ministry for Children sign is shown briefly. Then, a photo of the yellow sign that says “QUIET PLEASE INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS” is shown” while Maylene is talking.]
If you feel that it is important to talk to us before the interview, we can do that while your child waits in another room.
[Ryan is walking in the playground towards the camera with a trampoline to the left side of the screen.]
Ryan: The interview appointment could take up to two hours, so it’s important that you think of things to do to keep you and your tamariki comfortable.
[There is a close up of Maylene walking towards the camera outside with a trampoline in the background on the left side of the screen.]
Maylene: We will assist with these things as much as we can. But some of these things you can help with also. Think about food like snacks [a photo of corn chips, apple, a sandwich, biscuits and fruit on a plate is shown] and things to do [a photo of colourful blocks and plants are shown on a table]; or an activity [a photo of a table with knitted toys, a pink playdough container, a picture with a kite and felt pens are shown] to do while waiting; a special item [a photo of 2 playdough containers, felt pens, knitted toys and a colouring in book is shown] and comfortable clothing.
[A photo of pictures with tamariki and their whanau is shown].
It is helpful to bring a support person, so there is someone you and your child trusts that [a photo of the reception area is shown again] they can wait after the interview because you may be busy talking with the social worker, interviewer and police person. [Maylene is talking to the camera with a playground in the background.] Your child’s social worker may be able to sit with them during this time.
[A photo of a room with a small round table and 4 chairs around the table is shown. There are teddies on another chair to the left side of the screen.]
Ryan: This is also the time when we let you know how things went for your tamariki during the interview, [a photos a table with a fake plant, tissues and knitted teddies is shown] what happen next and who will do what. You can ask any questions at this time.
[Ryan walks outside towards the camera and Maylene after two steps joins Ryan to his left side and walks towards the camera. There is a trampoline and a slide in a playground in the background.]
We want to make sure you leave reassured about what will happen now and how to support your child.
[Maylene and Ryan walk off the screen and a trampoline is visible in a playground. Maylene and Ryan are then in a room with an adult woman, a girl aged around 12 year old and a boy aged around 9 years old. Maylene and Ryan stand up and walk towards the camera and stop close to the camera to talk while the adult and children stay seated in the background on a couch.]
Maylene: Remember that the social worker, police person and interviewer are here to support your tamariki to share their story in a safe and caring way.
Ryan: If you have any questions, please ask the team on the day and they will be able to guide you through the process.
Maylene: For more information, visit the website below [a green panel with a website written in white is shown saying https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/] and search child interview in the search bar.
[Maylene and Ryan turn around and sit down next to the adult and children who are still on the couch and talks with them but their voices cannot be heard. Ara walks into the room and walks towards the camera.]
Ara: I hope this video has given you more information on how police and Oranga Tamariki work together on evidential video interviews. Thanks for watching. Ka kite ano. [Ara waves.]
[A picture of the Oranga Tamariki Ministry for Children logo is shown and then a picture of the New Police Nga Pirihimana o Aotearoa logo is shown. A black screen with information about this video comes up.]
Thanks to: Maylene Jennings and Ryan Blair
Music: Bensound.com
Video produced by: Loupe Media Ltd NZ
Copyright Oranga Tamariki and New Zealand Police.
