Progress test 4

Question 1

It is important to preserve trace evidence in sexual assault cases. List four things that victims should refrain from (where possible) before a medical examination.

Answer 1

• No eating or drinking
• No going to the toilet (if necessary, use a toxicology kit to capture urine and ask the female victim not to wipe).
• No washing or showering
• No washing of hands or biting fingernails.

Question 2

List the points you would cover with a victim to explain the medical forensic examination procedure

Answer 2

Explain to the victim:

• That the examination will be conducted by a medical forensic practitioner specially trained in examining victims of sexual assault.
• The benefits of a full medical forensic examination including:
• The potential benefit to their physical, sexual and mental health
• How the examination can help Police obtain evidence to apprehend the offender
• The expected time for the examination and, if appropriate, possible outcomes of the examination.

Ask the victim if they have any concerns about the gender of the practitioner conducting the examination and advise that you will do your best to accommodate their wishes. (Research indicates that most ASA victims identify gender as an issue and indicate a preference for examination by a female).

Question 3

When interacting with victims of sexual offences, what actions should you take to provide a safe and secure environment in which they may regain some control of their lives?

Answer 3

The mnemonic CALM TEA stands for:

• Conduct your dealings in a sensitive and concerned manner.
• Accept they are telling the truth until/unless there is evidence to prove the contrary.
• Listen to what they tell you, giving them the opportunity to tell their account in their words, even to just vent their feelings.
• Establish whether they require medical attention
• Treat them courteously.
• Explain the process you are following and why you need to follow that process and ask certain questions.
• Advise them of local counselling services available.

Question 4

List three areas to consider when determining “seriousness of physical abuse”.

Answer 4

There are three areas to consider in determining whether physical abuse is serious and therefore meets the threshold for referral as a CPP case under this protocol:

1. The actions of the abuse
2. The injury inflicted, and
3. The circumstances (factors of the case).

Question 5

List four Police responsibilities to victims and their rights

Answer 5

1. Keep obligations under VRA 2002 and record all victim contacts.
2. Within 21 days, Victims must be updated about investigation.
3. Keep victims updated about investigation outcome.
4. If S29 offence victim must be advised of the VNR.

Question 6

Define “child abuse” as outlined in the OT Act 2018.

Answer 6

Harm, ill-treatment, abuse, neglect, or deprivation of any child or young person.

Question 7

In relation to child abuse investigations, define what the term “child-centred timeframes” means.

Answer 7

Child-centred timeframes are timeframes that are relevant to the child’s age and cognitive development. The younger the child the more vulnerable they are and therefore they require a quicker response. As an example, for a 5 year old, a week is a very long time for an event to be recounted with reliability. However, a 16 year old would have less difficulty recalling the same event several weeks later.