Guidance for abuse investigations

The Home Office and the Department of Health
have published joint guidance for agencies involved in managing
complex child abuse investigations.

It
focuses on issues highlighted in the Lost In Care report
into child abuse in North Wales during the 1970s and 1980s,
including access to records and information-sharing.

Home
Office minister John Denham said he hoped the guidance would prove
useful to the police and social services in dealing with difficult
and sensitive investigations.

The
guidance offers practical advice to social services and police on
key inter-agency procedures, such as setting up and closing an
investigation, and victim and witness support.

The
document has been developed by an inter-agency working group,
chaired by the Association of Chief Police Officers, which drew
together the experiences of police, local authorities and voluntary
organisations involved in complex child abuse
investigations.

– For
a copy call 020 7273 4545