85 child victims avoid court as recorded evidence grows

Eighty-five child victims in Barcelona did not have to appear in court after their testimony was recorded in advance. Spain’s Prosecution Service reported the rise in this practice in Madrid on 13 September, linking it to the 2021 law protecting children and teenagers from violence.

The recording lets children give their account once, rather than repeat it during the case or attend the full trial. But the Prosecution Service says poor sound and picture quality, a lack of facilities and shortages of on-call specialists can still undermine the process.

In one case, a provincial court threw out a recording after a challenge from the defence. Two children, aged 11 and 15, then had to testify again in a sexual abuse trial.

Gaps in equipment and staff

Teruel has no Sala Gesell, a room designed for this kind of child testimony. Recordings involving children must therefore be moved to Zaragoza to protect victims’ rights.

In Soria, meanwhile, a shortage of specialists on duty can leave prosecutors without the necessary basis to seek precautionary measures. The annual report also says some provinces still face problems with technical equipment and links to courtrooms.

Barnahus centres spread

The Prosecution Service also pointed to the growth of Barnahus centres for child victims of sexual offences. They bring police, child protection services, justice staff, psychologists and forensic doctors together in one place, reducing the number of assessments and interviews.

Tarragona’s pioneering Barnahus unit in Catalonia handled 106 cases in 2020, rising to 197 in 2021, 264 in 2022, 236 in 2023 and 268 in 2024. Tarragona province now has three operating centres, while 13 more have opened across Catalonia.

Topics: Court cases · Police

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com