That's where Ringwood resident Marj Munro and other volunteers of the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program come in.

The law requires an adult be present during police interviews of people under 18, so when a parent or guardian is unavailable, an 'independent person' is summoned.

Ms Munro, who began working with YRIPP two years ago after she retired from teaching, said her first priority was always the same upon being called in to a police station.

"When you go in, the first thing you are concerned about is, 'Is that young person OK?'," she said.

Independent persons may be summoned at any hour of the day or night and often arrive at police stations to find young people in distress.

"You have got a kid who is very vulnerable at this point in the police station. I remember one girl who said, 'I've never been in the back of a police car before and I'm never ever going in one again'."

In addition to attending the interview, independent persons can refer young people to counselling, housing, health and legal services for further support.

Ms Munro said the fact that YRIPP volunteers went out of their way to lend support, often at odd times of the night, carried weight with the young people they were aiding.

"There has been only a couple of times in all [the interviews I have attended] when the kid sort of hasn't been pleased to see someone."

She said that although it was not appropriate for an independent person to establish an ongoing relationship with a young person, their role was very clear.

"It's about establishing a rapport and seeing if there is anything I can do to help them. I don't mean that in a schmaltzy way; it's quite concrete stuff."