by Theckla Gunga EM TV News, Port Moresby
More sensibility and patience are keys to better understanding and compiling a police report on victims of sexual assault.
The two criteria will place police officers in a better position to investigating sexual assault cases involving minors.
These points were highlighted by Detective Sergeant Michelle Harris from the Australian Federal Police.
“The feedback is great, yesterday it was a very important day for PNG but all the participants tuned up and that shows how serious the participants are about leaning these interviewing skills,” Detective Harris said.
Harris and a team of Queensland Police are conducting a workshop in Port Moresby that targets improving interviewing skills that are applicable when speaking to children who are victims of sexual assaults.
Child abuse cases, particularly sexual penetration sits on top of the discussion table in almost all police stations nationwide.
It remains a growing concern for most communities and a challenge for the Police and Community Development Departments to address at least on a daily basis.
At least 15 child abuse cases are reported to the Lae Metropolitan Command in a month, while an average 10 in East New Britain.
The Pikinini Witness workshop that commenced on Monday aims to teach police officers on how best to speak to minors and get the desired outcome they need to compile police witness statements.
We are looking at more detailed statements and a better flow of communication between police and the victims
With such training in place, the facilitators say the police officers will better communicate with the victims and present quality police reports in courts.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3IhSuPR_oKk%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
