§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what directions he(a) has given and (b) intends to give to police forces on interviewing victims of crime with learning difficulties for the purpose of gathering evidence. [30282]
§ Mr. MichaelThe inter-departmental review of Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, announced by my right hon. Friend on 13 June 1997, and which includes representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers, is considering whether special guidance could helpfully be given to the police to assist them in identifying and interviewing victims of crime and witnesses with learning disabilities. How any guidance is implemented will be an operational matter for chief officers of police.