This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
Force policies relating to critical incidents and community impact assessments can be relevant in some child abuse investigations. They can also be used to promote confidence in the police.
Critical incidents
Local force policies should be followed where cases of child abuse meet the definition for a critical incident.
Community impact assessments
Officers investigating child abuse and responding to concerns for children should be aware that the issue may be perceived as relating to a particular community and/or that it may impact adversely on that community. Officers should follow local policy regarding community impact assessments. The force diversity adviser(s) should be informed of the community impact assessments and the reason why they are being prepared.