5.7 Complex (Organised or Multiple) Abuse

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was updated in October 2009 when references to Senior Strategy Meetings were changed to Complex Abuse Strategy Meetings.

1. Definition

Organised or multiple abuse covers circumstances which may involve a number of abusers and/or a number of children.

The abusers concerned may be acting together to abuse a child or children.

One or more of the adults involved may be using an institutional framework or position of authority to recruit children for abuse.

It reflects, to a greater or lesser extent, an element of organisation on the part of the adult/s involved and may involve:

Aspects of ritual to aid or conceal the abuse of children
Child sexual abuse networks where adults plan and develop social contacts with children for the purpose of gaining access to them in order to abuse them
Child pornography or abuse of children through prostitution
Abuse in residential homes, boarding schools or other institutions
Adult/s who seek contact with children for improper reasons through leisure or welfare organisations

2. General Principles

Cases of organised or multiple abuse are often highly complex because of the number of children involved, the very serious nature of the allegations of abuse, the need for therapeutic input and the complex and time consuming nature of any consequent legal proceedings.

Such cases usually require the formation of dedicated teams of professionals from both the Police and Children’s Social Care Services for the purpose of the investigation.

It is recognised that those who commit sex offences against children often operate across geographical and operational boundaries and the procedure takes into account the involvement of more than one local authority.

Where an allegation involves a post holder who has a specified role within these procedures, the referral must be reported to an alternative (more senior) manager.

In all investigations of organised abuse, it is essential that staff involved maintain a high level of confidentiality in relation to the information in their possession without jeopardising the investigation or the welfare of the children involved.

Subsequent information generated throughout the investigation should only be shared on a 'need to know' basis.

These procedures must be implemented in conjunction with the procedures on the Allegations Against Staff, Carers and Volunteers Procedure where appropriate.

For further guidance, see also "Complex Child Abuse Investigations: Inter Agency Issues"

3. Action on Receipt of Information or Referral

A referral may be made to the Children’s Social Care Services or a complaint made to the Police.

In both cases a referral needs to be made to Children’s Social Care Services and an initial Strategy Discussion held between the relevant Team Manager of Children’s Social Care Services and the relevant Manager of the Police Public Protection Investigation Unit (PPIU).

This discussion should:

Share and assess the information known
Consider any immediate protective action required
Identify further information required
Agree how it will be collected

A Complex Abuse Strategy Meeting should be convened within three days.

4. Complex Abuse Strategy Meeting

All allegations, which may suggest the response under these procedures, should involve the Area Manager, Children’s Social Care chairing the Strategy Meeting. These meetings are known as Complex Abuse Strategy Meetings.

The following people should be invited to the first Complex Abuse Strategy Meeting

Children’s Social Care Services relevant Assessment Team Manager
DI of the Police Public Protection Investigation Unit
Representative of the Legal Department

It may also include the referrer, if appropriate, and anyone else relevant to the meeting.

The aim of this meeting is to:

Consider if the allegations are extremely serious and complex and thus warrant investigation under these procedures.
Undertake an initial mapping exercise to determine the scale of the investigation and possible individuals implicated.
Consider a plan for the investigation to be presented to the Strategic Management Group (see Section 6, Strategic Management Group), including resource implications
Again consider any immediate protective action required

5. Informing Relevant Professionals

If having considered the information available, the conclusion of this meeting is that the suspicions are confirmed, the Area Team Manager will inform the Head of the Safeguarding Children Unit and the Head of Children’s Social Care Services. The DI will inform the Head of Police Public Protection Unit. Each Head of Service should consider alerting their respective Press Officers and an initial joint media strategy agreed, if required.

6. Strategic Management Group

To ensure a coordinated response, a SMG (Strategic Management Group) meeting chaired by the Assistant Chief Police Officer must be convened within 5 working days of the Complex Abuse Strategy Meeting which agreed that these procedures should be adopted.

The membership of the SMG should comprise senior staff able to commit resources. The group is referred to as the ‘Gold Group’, and will normally include the following:

Assistant Chief Police Officer (Chair)
Head of Children’s Social Care Services
Police senior investigating officer (usually PPIU DI)
Children’s Social Care Services lead manager/Area Manager
Senior legal adviser (local authority)
Senior health representative e.g. Consultant Paediatrician / Designated Doctor
Police Press officer
Other individuals and agencies as appropriate
LADO if the case involves people working with children

The terms of reference of the SMG must be set up as specified in the Home Office & Department of Health guidance “Complex Child Abuse Investigations: Inter Agency Issues”.

The SMG meeting must agree a plan in line with Appendix A of the above government guidance.

An individual must be designated to act as Coordinator between the SMG (Gold Group) and the Joint Investigation Management Group identified in the plan - either the Police senior investigating officer or the Children’s Social Care Services lead manager.

The responsibility of the Coordinator is to manage the Joint Investigation Management Group and prepare a report at the conclusion of the case.

The SMG (Gold Group) must make arrangements to meet regularly during the investigation to:

Monitor the progress, quality and integrity of the investigation
Review risk indicators for the children involved
Consider resource requirements
Consider the appropriate timing of the termination of the investigation
Plan a debrief meeting with the Joint Investigation Group to identify lessons learnt

The SMG should remain in existence at least until the Court or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has made a decision about the alleged perpetrators.

The SMG must report in writing to the Safeguarding Children Board, who must consider at the first available opportunity, whether a Serious Case Review should be initiated.

7. Joint Investigation Group

Membership

This group led by the PPIU senior investigating officer or the Children’s Social Care Services Area Manager, should consist of experienced personnel from PPIU and Children’s Social Care Services (or an independent agency for social workers).

The size of the group will depend on the scale of the investigation, but in the majority of cases both PPIU and Children’s Social Care Services should provide a line manager and two staff/officers trained and experienced in interviewing children in accordance with the Achieving Best Evidence Guidance.

Membership may also be drawn as necessary from the appropriate health professionals, in particular Forensic Medical Examiners (FME), paediatricians, psychiatrists, health visitors and from education (head teachers and class teachers), CPS, legal services, probation, victim support services, and the Safeguarding Children Unit.

In selecting staff, consideration should be given to requirements arising from the individual needs of the relevant child or children - e.g. gender, culture, race, language, and where relevant, disability

Practical Arrangements

The location of the group must take account, both geographically and organisationally, of the need to maintain confidentiality, especially crucial where the investigation concerns staff or carers.

Appropriate facilities must be available for video interviews and paediatric assessment.

Administrative support, information technology and accommodation requirements must be addressed at the outset, including the storage of confidential records.

Responsibilities

In addition to the information in paragraph 3.12 of “Complex Child Abuse Investigations: Inter Agency Issues” the Joint Investigation Management Group will also be responsible for:

Planning the overall investigation involving record checking, evidence gathering, planning and undertaking a series of interrelated interviews and any surveillance required
Considering the implications of crossing geographical boundaries
Maintenance of written records of regular strategy and operational meetings
Holding planning meetings for individual pieces of work e.g. video interview of a child and/or action to protect a child
Gathering other evidence including forensic evidence, interviews with alleged abusers, witnesses and other corroborative evidence
Communication and liaison with other agencies on a need to know basis
Convening Multi-Agency Planning Meetings and/or Child Protection Conferences as appropriate
Co-ordination and timing of therapeutic services
Regularly updating the SMG on the progress made and recommending when to close the investigation
Consideration of arrangements for court hearings and support to children and families
Recommendations as to the placement of children and any contact involving children and their siblings, relatives or other adults

8. Crossing Geographical and Operational Boundaries

It may be recognised at the outset or during the investigation that there are suspected or potential victims in more than one geographical area.

At the outset, the responsibility for managing the investigation lies with the Children’s Social Care Services Assessment Team where the abuse is alleged to have occurred/where the alleged perpetrator/s are alleged to operate.

Once it is recognised that there are suspected or potential victims in other areas, a joint approach should be made by the SMG to the appropriate Children’s Social Care Services team(s) and PPIU.

The original joint investigation team should undertake the investigation on behalf of the other geographical areas.

A senior manager from each area should join the initiating SMG to discuss this and agree any resource implications involved.

If the number of victims outside the geographical boundaries of the original joint investigation team increases to the extent that it cannot respond, then a joint investigation team in the new geographic area should be established.

It is essential that there is a joint SMG to provide overall planning. If it is necessary to have more than one joint investigation team, there must be close working between coordinators and processes for full information sharing.

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