Policy Statement

Policy: / Investigating Child abuse and Safeguarding Children Policy Statement
Approved by which board (or Chief Officer) and date: / Operations Board
Owner / Detective Chief Superintendent, CID
For release under Freedom of Information? / Yes
Supporting procedures / College of Policing APP Child Abuse
College of Policing APP Child Sexual Exploitation
Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2013
Contact for advice / Detective Superintendent Public Protection
Review date / April 2017 and every three years subsequently

If changes have been made to an existing policy, you must complete the boxes below

Amendments made / Removal; of Cumbria Constabulary procedures following introduction of College of Policing APP.
Date and Version Number / April 2014

Equality Analysis

Equality Impact Assessment completed and already in existence.

1.  Aim

1.1 The aim of this policy is to ensure that, in partnership with other statutory agencies (including criminal justice agencies) and voluntary sector services, the Constabulary responds appropriately to concerns about children and thoroughly investigates cases of child abuse. The safeguarding of children is fully supported and achieved by adhering to the following principles in an effective and consistent way:

·  Protect the lives of children and ensure that in the investigation of child abuse the welfare of all child(ren) is paramount;

·  Listen to the voice of the child, they have an abundance of information to give and should be given the opportunity to provide it;

·  Investigate thoroughly all reports of child abuse and neglect and protect the rights of child victims of crime;

·  Ensure the investigation of child abuse and the safeguarding of children is a mainstream policing activity;

·  Take effective action against offenders so that they can be held accountable, through the criminal justice system, while safeguarding the welfare of the child;

·  Adopt a proactive multi-agency approach to preventing and reducing child abuse in order to safeguarding children

·  Ensure that learning from Serious Case Reviews is shared and actioned so that best practice and lessons learned improves practice and delivers improvement to safeguarding.

2.  The Policy

Cumbria Constabulary is committed to its key role in investigating child abuse and safeguarding children effectively. It supports a robust, pro-active and multi-agency approach towards dealing with the causes and effects of child abuse through the use of this policy and supporting procedures in order to maximise the safety of children. Crime against children must be dealt with in the same robust manner as other serious crime.

3.  Supporting Information

College of Policing APP: Investigating child abuse and safeguarding children

Protecting Vulnerable people (PVP) process map (Attached to Policy Statement overleaf)

College of Policing APP: Child Sexual Exploitation

Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2013

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