Effective participation beyond the courtroom: Examining the work of intermediaries in police custody (and beyond)
Lunch Seminar with Dr John Taggart, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
When: 27 August 2025, 1pm – 2pm
Where: Deakin Burwood Campus, LC7.032 Moot Court Boardroom or via Zoom
The core function of the intermediary role is the facilitation of communication between vulnerable individuals and criminal justice professionals. While the intermediary role was first introduced as part of a package of special measures that excluded the accused, courts can appoint intermediaries for defendants using their inherent jurisdiction. The basis for these appointments is to ensure the accused can ‘effectively participate’ in proceedings against them. Intermediary assistance for vulnerable suspects in police custody is, unfortunately, extremely rare. In Northern Ireland, however, intermediaries regularly attend the police custody suite, conducting communication assessments of suspects and providing practical guidance to police concerning the communication needs of accused individuals. This paper draws on 31 semi-structured interviews with intermediaries, custody sergeants, interviewing officers, healthcare professionals and appropriate adults working in custody suites across Northern Ireland. Considering how little empirical research has examined intermediary work at the investigative stage, this paper asks some fundamental questions which should lay the groundwork for further research.
Dr John Taggart
Dr John Taggart is a Lecturer in Law and Director of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Queens’ University, Belfast. John is also a qualified barrister in Northern Ireland and England and Wales and has practised criminal law in both jurisdictions. His research focuses on the criminal process, criminal justice and socio-legal approaches to criminal law. In particular, John’s research looks at special measures in criminal courts and the role of the intermediary as a communication specialist for vulnerable court users. John’s first monograph, ‘The Intermediary in the Criminal Justice System’ was published by Routledge in 2025.
John is the theme lead for the ‘Vulnerable Accused’ as part of the British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network. He co-convenes the ‘Vulnerable Suspects and Defendants work-in-progress forum’ and has recently been appointed to the Advocate’s Gateway Management Committee. John is a regular adviser to the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland) and has trained intermediary cohorts in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
If you would like to join us, either in person or via zoom, please email law-as-protection@deakin.edu.au