Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Police response to investigating child abuse

Authorised Professional Practice

Back to authorised professional practice

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

First published
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
Was this page useful?

Do not provide personal information such as your name or email address in the feedback form. Read our privacy policy for more information on how we use this data

What is the reason for your answer?
I couldn't find what I was looking for
The information wasn't relevant to me
The information is too complicated
Other