Police response to investigating child abuse

The police have a duty to safeguard children. This section outlines the ways in which concerns about children come to the attention of the police, and gives guidance on managing and supervising these investigations.

It is relevant to:

• police officers and police staff who may receive a report of an incident involving a child, or who deal with situations which may indicate concerns about a child
• police managers and those involved in developing policy on police responses to child abuse and safeguarding children