Summary of complaint
We’ve received complaints from some people who felt it was inappropriate/insensitive to interview an eight year old girl and her mother about how they had discussed events in Southport.
Our response
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has strict guidelines on interviewing children - their welfare must take priority over any editorial requirement. Due care was exercised at all times.
As we heard, the daughter was at school with one of the girls killed in the knife attack. With many parents struggling with how to talk to their children about what had happened in Southport, we reflected how one mother had approached the subject openly with her daughter, and that it was therefore important to hear their story in their own words.
Steps were taken at all times to ensure that the mother was satisfied that her daughter was okay, and also to check that the daughter was comfortable and relaxed throughout. We were very clear with both mother and daughter that they were in charge and could stop the interview at any time, that the daughter didn’t have to answer anything she didn’t understand or didn’t want to talk about.
The interview with the daughter was kept short and we made sure that she was always sitting with her mother.Μύ
We have also followed up with the mother post-interview as duty of care.
Due care was exercised at all times, in line with our Editorial Guidelines.