Jennifer Twite warns lawyers to be cautious if they suspect a child client is passing information to the police
In 2018, we were shocked to discover that the police were recruiting children to provide them with information on dangerous criminals.
Just for Kids Law was unaware of this little-known practice of using children as ‘covert human intelligence sources' (CHIS) or spies, despite all of the work we do with vulnerable children – including many who are involved in criminality; and sadly, some who are criminally exploited by gangs.
We began our campaign against the use of child spies that year, arguing that the practice puts children at risk of severe physical and emotional harm; and that the lack of safeguards for children used in this way contravenes domestic and international human rights laws.
The leg...
