Key points
The police have a duty to carry out a thorough and professional investigation into allegations of crime reported to them.
Plans for future support and direction should be based on the findings from both the assessment and the police investigation.
How to do it
The police investigation and the social worker enquiry should be closely coordinated, with the joint objective of protecting the child and convicting the alleged abuser. The police will lead on the criminal investigation and other professionals should be mindful of this, ensuring that any action they take has been agreed with the police, preferably at multi-agency planning meetings.
Where a prosecution may result, particular care should be taken when interviewing potential witnesses (especially children), and social workers and police officers should liaise closely.
In particular, professionals should avoid asking leading questions and consult the responsible police officer before disclosing information to someone who may be a perpetrator or may pass that information on to a perpetrator.
Sometimes, the police and other professionals will have to balance the need to gather strong evidence against the alleged perpetrator with the possible risk of further harm to a child. Where there is a serious risk of further significant harm occurring to the child, or significant harm occurring to another child, steps must be taken to protect that child.
