Abusers will hear victims

Child abusers in Somerset will be confronted with expressions of
their victims’ feelings on audio tape in an attempt to make them
accept they, not the child, are to blame.

The three-year pilot scheme is funded by Somerset’s probation
service in partnership with the NSPCC.

‘It is quite radical but we know this kind of confrontation does
work well with other types of offender,’ said probation officer
Gary Gunby.

‘If we can learn more about how children become entrapped, then
we are able to help them prevent it happening again,’ said Chris
Curran, NSPCC project co-ordinator.

The scheme will also be used to prepare prison and court
reports.