CPS child sex abuse guidance focuses on information sharing

The guidance, published by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today, outlines how police and prosecutors are expected to share appropriate information about cases with local authorities, schools and family courts.

The guidance also advises how victims should be treated in court and tells prosecutors they must focus on the credibility of the allegations, rather than the “perceived weakness” of victims.

Keir Starmer QC, director of public prosecutions, hopes the new protocol will help improve child protection and secure greater convictions.

He said: “This change marks the most fundamental attitude shift across the criminal justice system for a generation.

“Police investigations into child sexual abuse will be greatly bolstered by the information that will now be shared with us by local government agencies and family courts.

“If we are able to present additional evidence to support the allegation, then our chances of securing convictions greatly increase. With this protocol, no evidential stone will be left unturned.”

The guidance, which was created after a three-month public consultation, has been welcomed by child welfare charities.

Alan Wardle, head of corporate affairs at the NSPCC, hopes the changes will improve child sex abuse prosecutions.

He said: “It’s imperative the utmost effort is made to ensure children get the right level of support in such cases and the director of public prosecutions has given a strong lead in this area, which we hope will be followed across the criminal justice system.

“The trauma of suffering sexual abuse should not be followed by a legal process that becomes a trial for the young victim. This is not the complete solution, but it’s certainly a solid and welcome start.”

Alison Worsley, deputy director of strategy at Barnardo’s, added: “A wholesale shift in attitudes is required throughout the legal system when dealing with the child victims of sexual exploitation and these guidelines are a step towards achieving that.

“The challenge now for police and prosecutors is to live up to the word of the guidance and make the crucial changes needed in practice.” 

Sue Berelowitz, deputy children’s commissioner for England, has also welcomed the guidelines and praised the CPS for the work it has done around child sex abuse cases.

She said: “The guidelines are important in helping to address this damaging crime and support its victims.

“The CPS has worked hard to improve the experiences of child witnesses, and increase the likelihood of securing convictions by ensuring that judges and juries better understand the psychological and emotional impact on victims of their appalling experiences.”