Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice

Require jurors in Child Abuse/Rape trials be educated on the "Five Fs"

Closed 41 signatures

What the petition asks

These 5 reactions are immediate, automatic and instinctive responses to fear/trauma. The Government should require that jurors in child abuse/rape trials be provided with educational material on the five F’s of psychology prior to the trial.
Every child/rape victim deserves a fair understanding. This needs to be compulsory in every child abuse/rape trial.

It is crucial for the juror to understand the physiological/emotional response of the victim so that they receive a fair trial. How can they judge the victim’s reaction without this knowledge? A traumatised victim may be unable to give an accurate account of why they reacted a certain way and education in the 5-F’s should allow a fairer system for victims.

Timeline

26 Jan 2021 Petition opened for signatures
26 Jul 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 41
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 26 Jan 2021
Closed 26 Jul 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.