Child Abuse Investigation Command The past, the present and beyond Why we do the CRAM and the QA Process SCD5 Child Abuse Investigation Command DI Sue.

Child Abuse Investigation Command

The past, the present and beyondWhy we do the CRAM and the QA Process

SCD5 Child Abuse Investigation Command

DI Sue Inwood

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Child Abuse Investigation Command – SCD5

History & Background

• SCD5 mission to make children safer in London

• Established post Victoria Climbie 2000

• Largest dedicated police child abuse/protection

command in world @ 450 detectives/200 police staff

• Serves Pan London 32 LSCB’s (some wider remit)

• Modernisation program post Baby Peter, 2008-10

Child Abuse Investigation Command

SCD5 Issues/Challenges/Role• Multi-agency working

• Complex arena child abuse investigation

• Child Protection/Safeguarding issues

• Very High Organisational Risk

• Critical decisions at low levels

• High profile criminal justice cases

• Intense media interest

• Political issues

Child Abuse Investigation Command

• Recording - data standards – IT systems• Information exchange (updating & challenging)• Supervision (quality, consistency, timeliness)• Identifying critical risk in high volume (how?)• Risk assessment (control measures)• Focus on high risk• Escalation and challenge• Resilience/capacity/skills/training

Police Areas for Improvement – AFI’s

Child Abuse Investigation Command

• "Once risk has been assessed, the more substantial task is to manage it, to think of how to intervene to reduce it"

Munroe, E Effective Child Protection 2008

• "The absence of a clear focus on the source of risk to children is important because in such situations child protection registration or any form of supervision is unlikely to be effective." Humphreys & Stanley, DV & CP, Directions for Good Practice.

“RISK”

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Reducing risk & repeat victims

Initial Crime Reports

No

of Re

pea

t Victim

s

9.17% were repeat victims

1.34% were repeat victims 3 times or more (in 12months)

0.08% were repeat victims 5 times or more (in 12months)

Child Abuse Investigation Command

CHILD RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX (CRAM)

• A comprehensive process underpinning key activities supporting core Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) responsibilities.

• Based upon proactive use of intelligence to identify risk and support decisions.

• The CRAM applies to the 3 core CAIT activity areas:

Referrals - Investigation - Protection.

Child Abuse Investigation Command

CHILD RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX (CRAM)

• Using intelligence research to support decision making rationale;

• Completing & updating risk assessments with case specific control measures that are regularly reviewed by a supervisor;

• Focus on identifying repeat victims of crime and those at critical risk within high volume referrals;

• The timely exchange of information with relevant partners;

• The use of consistent & authoritative supervision to support case officers

Child Abuse Investigation Command

CRAM - 6 core elements

1. Intelligence

2. Risk factors

3. Risk assessment

4. Supervision

5. Recording

6. Communication

Child Abuse Investigation Command

SCD5 Risk Principles

• Risk Factors can be grouped

• Number of factors present can compound risk

• Repeat victimisation leads to higher risk

• Recognise critical risk in high volume

• Simple recording system to assist recognition of risk

• Dialogue with others to enhance assessment.

• Control Measures R.A.R.A Reduce/Avoid/Remove/Accept - Risk

• Appropriate (early) intervention in cases of chronic

abuse/neglect to protect

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Control Measures (RARA)R Reduce risk

A Avoid risk

R Remove risk

A Accept risk

Risk assessment is an ongoing process

Measures must be SMART

Record Rationale.

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Tracey Connelly

• History of Drug/Alcohol abuse

• In & out of care

• Socially inadequate

• Special Needs Education

• Previous victim of abuse

• Met ex-husband at 15yrs

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Stephen Barker• Semi-literate

• Allegedly abused as a child

• Mental Health issues

• Special Needs Education

• Animal Cruelty

• Relationship issues

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Jason Owen• Previous convictions

• Drug abuse

• Troubled youth

• Suspected Paedophile

• Name changes

• 15 year old girlfriend

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Risk Factors: (Victim, Suspect, Household) A structure for intelligence research for the 3 CAIT activity areas: Referral,

Investigation and Protection.

• Based on learning from SCR’s, MARAC, Intel Analysis, SUDI’s etc

• Risk Assessment reviewed/updated on new & current Information

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Quality Assurance Process

• Set terms of reference

• Remote data monitoring

• Site visit and structured interviews with staff

• Report of visit compiled

• Passed to SMT lead and CAIT DI

• Action plan set and agreed, reviewed after 3 months

• Partnership team visits

• Bi-monthly DI meetings

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Any Questions07920822903