ABSTRACT
When I first read the Memorandum of Good Practice on Video Recorded Interviews with Child Witnesses for Criminal Proceedings (Home Office, 1992), followed by the research evaluation of videotaping children's evidence (Davies et al., 1995) I found myself overwhelmed by powerful emotions about the Memorandum: frustration, anger, incredulity, a sense of injustice and futility, of wasted time and effort and resources. These were surprising reactions to a reasoned, meticulous, often sensible, well-intentioned official document by thoughtful and caring people. They seemed intemperate and unfair. But they have also, I suspect, afflicted other child-centred workers in sexual abuse, who feel at these times that the world of reason and reality is stood upon its head.
