Police

Where can I obtain a copy of the ACPO Manual on the Historical Investigation of Historical Child Abuse.

The ACPO 2002 manual on the Investigation of Historical Institutional Child Abuse  and provides useful bench mark for determining whether the police have acted correctly, and whether specific investigations meet best practice standards.

F.A.C.T. understands this guidance, has been, or is being, revised following criticims of it by the Home Affairs Select Committee

In March 2005 ACPO produced new guidance on dealing with child abuse investigations

The  guidance on Investigating Child Abuse and Safeguarding Children was developed in response to the Victoria Climbie Inquiry chaired by Lord Laming.

Terry Grange, ACPO lead on child protection and Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, said:

This is one of the best manuals of its kind ever produced for the police service. There was a need for these national standards and I urge every police force in England and Wales to embrace them and make the necessary resources available to keep our children safe now and in the future."

The purpose of the guidance is to provide the police service with clear information about investigating child abuse and neglect, and safeguarding children. It provides operational and tactical advice to all staff to ensure that child abuse investigation is not perceived as something different to the investigation of other forms of serious crime. The guidance also provides an outline of multi-agency responsibilities in protecting children and describes the roles and responsibilities of each agency.

A F.A.C.T. spokesman said the guidelines also provide a useful benchmark of best investigative practice and enable falsey accused individuals to measure to what extent individual police forces comply with recommended policies and procedures.