“…In most of the continental systems, an investigative role for social workers was seen as contradictory to their basic function (a perspective argued in Britain with great force both procedurally and professionally by Woodmansey (1985Woodmansey ( , 1990) and they were either not expected or not allowed to give evidence in child abuse cases. Collaboration with police in investigation is unique to this country and was not easily understood by continental social workers (the converse was also true as the current practice amongst English social workers, following various judicial enquiries, now places great emphasis on joint training and coordinated action in protecting children from abuse).…”