Sudden and unexplained child deaths are usually investigated locally by uniformed officers and CID, although in some cases detectives are only involved in suspicious circumstances.
However, under a Metropolitan Police protocol on child deaths, which started from 1 April, the Child Abuse Investigation Command has taken over responsibility for investigating all such deaths of children under two in the capital.
Four specially trained detective inspectors will be on call at any one time to carry out joint investigations with health professionals.
Detective chief superintendent Peter Spindler, head of the command, said the investigation of sudden and unexplained death in infancy needed experience at a senior level so inquiries could be made with "respect and sensitivity".
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