PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Publications and reports - YRIPP
Public Submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission - Supporting Young People in Police Interviews |
| A 27 page submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission's public enquiry based upon the specialist knowledge of CMY and YACVic in relation to issues relating to young people and young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and the experiences of the implementation of YRIPP over the past 5½ years. |
| To read the full submission (PDF) click here |
Report: Independent Persons or Appropriate Adults? Supporting Young People in Police Interviews |
| While YRIPP puts Victoria at the cutting edge within Australia in the Independent Person field, this research aimed to learn from oversees models in this area. In particular, the research aimed to enhance the performance of volunteer IPs in Victoria through an examination of some of the operational issues associated with the recruitment, training, support and retention of similar volunteers in the UK. Key conclusions include that in order to ensure the most effective IP support service for young people in police custody, in addition to some operational changes, there are a range of legislative and policy reforms that should be made in Victoria. This research makes extensive recommendations (pages 41 to 43) relating to each of these areas. |
| To read the full report (PDF) click here |
| Please note that the views expressed in this paper are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of YRIPP management, staff or partner agencies. |
UPDATE: Review of Independent Persons in police interviews with young people |
| In late 2007, I travelled to the United Kingdom to undertake a Churchill Fellowship to look at how the equivalent of our Independent Person system operates overseas. The intent was to learn the lessons of what was working well with the Victorian program and where we could learn some international lessons to improve Victoria’s practice. The full research report, Independent Persons or Appropriate Adults? Supporting Young People in Police Interviews, is available above. A range of recommendations came out of this research, several of which related to law reform. In particular, the report called for clarification in Victoria’s legislation of the role of the independent person. Recommendations included: * that only those trained to perform the IP role be recognised as IPs; and * that the law be clarified in terms of the IP’s role, responsibilities and rights. The report argued that this would help to ensure that the role was carried out in the manner intended when Section 464E was introduced. It would also allow more consistent protection of the rights of young people in police custody and help to reduce any confusion at the local level. Based on these recommendations and representations subsequently made to the Victorian Law Reform Commission by YRIPP management (CMY and YACVic), the commission agreed to undertake a project examining the law in Victoria as it relates to the role of Independent Persons in police interviews, with a view to clarifying the legislation in this area. This project is being conducted under the community law reform function of the commission whereby relatively minor legal issues that are of general community concern can be considered. The commission have advised us they will examine whether the law can be clarified and improved so that it better protects young people’s rights and articulates the role of those providing support during police interviews and who should perform such a role. As part of the process, the commission will consult with stakeholders in the field including those performing the IP role. Sally Reid, Program Manager June 2009 |
| For more information see the Victorian Law Reform Commission |
