Joint Investigative Interviews of Child Victims and Witnesses

Child protection and justice partners are working in partnership with the Scottish Government to take forward recommendations of the Evidence and Procedure Review to improve the quality and consistency of Joint Investigative Interviews (JIIs) of children.

The aim is that JII statements are of a sufficiently high standard that they can be used as Evidence in Chief and contribute to the range of improvements being made to remove the need for children to give evidence in court and so reduce the potential of further trauma for child victims and witnesses.

This work is being led by local authorities and Police Scotland who both have statutory responsibility for the investigation of concerns about children.

A National JII Project Team, made up of experienced social workers and police officers, was set up in November 2017 to develop a new approach to JII’s in Scotland, drawing on national and international research and best practice.

This led to the development of the Scottish Child Interview Model for joint investigative interviewing and to a new, comprehensive training programme for child interviewers.  This new model is now being implemented across all areas in Scotland.

You can find out more in the initial information pack.

The 2024 Status Report for the National JII Project captures key achievements and challenges to date.  Find out more here

Seven Minute Briefings

Scottish Child Interview Model Background and Overview

Scottish Child Interview Model of Practice

Scottish NICHD Protocol

National Joint Investigative Interviewing Training Programme

Evidence Based Interview Practice – Research Briefings

Evaluation of Interviewer Practice

Emerging Learning

Emerging Learning: Case Study 1
Emerging Learning: Case Study 2
Emerging Learning - Practical Operations
Emerging Learning - Cadre Coordinator Role
Emerging Learning - Briefing Paper One - Preparation for Implementation
Emerging Learning - Lanarkshire Social Work Management
Emerging Learning - North Strathclyde Health Data
Emerging Learning - Briefing Paper 2 - Learning from Practice
Emerging Learning - Briefing Paper 3 - December 2022
Emerging Learning - Dumfries and Galloway Case Illustrations
Emerging Learning - Joint Management in Glasgow JII Partnership

Newsletters

October 2020
December 2020
April 2021
October 2021
June 2022
December 2022
October 2024

Presentations / Meetings

Presentation to CPC Scotland on the Scottish Child Interview Model for Joint Investigative Interviewing (30 September 2020)
Insight from Interviewers (31 August 2021)

Evaluation and Research

Evaluation and Learning Framework
JII Interim Evaluation Report
Evidential and Technical Quality of JIIs June 2021
Quality Assurance and Data Framework (Quality Standards)
A New Approach to Investigative Interviews with Children - What Can We Learn From the Interviewers (Hannah Carr 2022 Research)
Joint Investigative Interviewing in Scotland - Provision of Non-Suggestive Social Support (2022 Research)

Blog Posts

JII In Scotland - a Reflective Blog (September 2021)

Jillian Ingram
JII National Implementation Coordinator
jilliani@cosla.gov.uk