Dear Editor,
The Government’s announced plan to establish a dedicated forensic interview (FI) unit for child abuse victims is a necessary and long-overdue step toward strengthening the national response to one of the most serious social crises affecting our society.
Currently, these interviews — a critical component in securing evidence and protecting victims — are conducted by non-governmental organisations such as ChildLink and Blossoms Inc., supported by the Child Protection Agency (CPA). Transitioning this function into a State-managed unit should, in principle, improve access and timeliness. However, while this development is welcome, it does not go far enough in addressing the deeper structural deficiencies that continue to undermine child protection efforts.
The central issue is not merely who conducts forensic interviews, but the absence of a cohesive, end-to-end investigative framework. At present, cases are fragmented across multiple agencies — police, Child Protection Officers, medical personnel, and external service providers — creating gaps where accountability is diluted and critical missteps can occur. These gaps often result in delayed medical examinations, inconsistent documentation, and poorly coordinated case management, all of which can ultimately weaken prosecutions.
What is required is a dedicated, specialised investigative unit assigned to each case from the point of report through to its submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Such a unit should be responsible for coordinating every stage of the process: ensuring timely medical examinations, managing forensic interviews, liaising with child protection services, and producing comprehensive, high-quality case files. This continuity would eliminate the systemic lapses that currently allow cases to falter.
The Minister herself has acknowledged deficiencies in case reporting, noting that gaps in documentation can determine whether a matter “goes left or right.” While increased training is important, it cannot compensate for a system where responsibility is fragmented and no single entity is accountable for the integrity of the case from start to finish.
Equally concerning is the continued shortage of Child Protection Officers across regions. The existence of rapid response mechanisms is commendable, but these initiatives cannot function effectively without adequate staffing. One officer per region is not a solution; it is an admission of limited capacity in the face of a growing and complex problem.
The proposed digital tracking system is another positive initiative, offering the potential for greater visibility into how cases progress. However, tracking alone does not resolve systemic inefficiencies. It merely records them. Real reform requires structural alignment, clear lines of responsibility, and professional ownership of each case.
There is also concern regarding the extent of ministerial involvement in operational matters. While oversight is essential, the system risks inefficiency if it is subject to continuous micro-management at the political level. The role of the Minister should be to set policy direction, allocate resources, and conduct periodic audits to ensure accountability. The day-to-day management of cases must be left to trained professionals, supported by clear protocols and performance standards. Effective governance depends not on constant intervention, but on building a system that functions competently without it.
Child protection demands urgency, coordination, and professionalism. More importantly, it requires a system where accountability is clear and continuous, not dispersed across multiple actors. The establishment of a forensic interview unit is a step forward, but without broader structural reform, it risks becoming another isolated fix within an already strained framework.
If we are serious about protecting our children, then the approach must be comprehensive, integrated, and uncompromising in its focus on outcomes. Anything less will continue to leave vulnerable children exposed to the very failures we claim to be addressing.
Yours faithfully,
Hemdutt Kumar
