A VITAL tool to spare victims of child sex abuse from having to give evidence in a crowded court room is to be rolled out in WA.
Specialised child interview recording equipment will be purchased by WA Police after the State Government allocated additional funding of $741,000.
The money will fund the purchase and installation of specialist audio-visual equipment at three metropolitan sites, along with the roll out of portable units to regional Western Australia.
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READ NOWPortable equipment will allow interviews to be conducted at schools, hospitals or in regional communities when required.
The funding will also allow the WA Police Force to digitise historic criminal records to improve CrimTrac searches.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most depraved crimes imaginable.
“But unfortunately our specialist detectives at the Child Abuse Squad deal with these highly traumatising cases day in and day out,” she added.
“We want to ensure they are well supported and resourced to enable them to do their job both properly and compassionately.
“The McGowan Government is serious about giving our police the tools they need to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice.