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Drawing on unique observational data from police training with child volunteers, this study evaluates the linguistic patterns used by officers for transmitting complex, legally-binding information to children during the opt-out procedure (which determines how children’s evidence is presented in court). It is shown that while the officers realise the information is difficult to explain and understand, they lack the skills to monitor and manage their linguistic choices and to respond to the children’s needs. Van Lier’s model of levels of language awareness is used to show where the problems arise, and it is proposed that introducing language awareness into police-child interview training could be empowering for officers. With greater control over the impact of their discourse, officers could materially improve the quality of the opt-out procedure delivery.
