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| Inspectors criticise police over abuse inquiry conduct | Inspectors criticise police over abuse inquiry conduct |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in England and Wales have been accused of failing to carry out effective investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect. | Police in England and Wales have been accused of failing to carry out effective investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect. |
| An Inspectorate of Constabulary report looked at 576 cases across eight forces since 2013 and suggests there was an "inadequate" response in 220 of them. | An Inspectorate of Constabulary report looked at 576 cases across eight forces since 2013 and suggests there was an "inadequate" response in 220 of them. |
| The National Police Chiefs Council acknowledged that forces had to "fundamentally change" their approach. | The National Police Chiefs Council acknowledged that forces had to "fundamentally change" their approach. |
| The Home Office said police would be given the resources to improve. | The Home Office said police would be given the resources to improve. |
| Evidence delays | Evidence delays |
| The report - In harm's way: The role of the police in keeping children safe - found "weaknesses and inconsistencies" at all stages of the child protection system. | |
| Inspectors looked at the way the Norfolk, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Nottingham, Dyfed-Powys and West Mercia forces had conducted investigations involving vulnerable children. | Inspectors looked at the way the Norfolk, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Nottingham, Dyfed-Powys and West Mercia forces had conducted investigations involving vulnerable children. |
| Of the 576 cases, 177 were found to have been dealt with to a good standard, while 220 were viewed as inadequate and 179 were deemed as adequate. | Of the 576 cases, 177 were found to have been dealt with to a good standard, while 220 were viewed as inadequate and 179 were deemed as adequate. |
| The inspectors also referred to delays in gathering evidence, and said too little had been done to arrest suspects. | The inspectors also referred to delays in gathering evidence, and said too little had been done to arrest suspects. |
| The HMIC said police forces must adapt to the "substantial new challenge" of child protection. | The HMIC said police forces must adapt to the "substantial new challenge" of child protection. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the inspectors were calling for an end to a target-driven approach to policing, where success is measured by crime figures, which has encouraged a focus on burglary and car crime. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the inspectors were calling for an end to a target-driven approach to policing, where success is measured by crime figures, which has encouraged a focus on burglary and car crime. |
| The HMIC said they were "surprised" to find that some officers accused children of crimes rather than treating them as potential victims. It also noted delays in gathering evidence, and said too little was done in some cases to arrest suspects. | The HMIC said they were "surprised" to find that some officers accused children of crimes rather than treating them as potential victims. It also noted delays in gathering evidence, and said too little was done in some cases to arrest suspects. |
| It highlighted a case in which police and social services agreed, without consulting a medical practitioner, that the likely cause of vaginal bleeding in a four-year-old was eczema even though the child had made sexual allegations against a family member. | It highlighted a case in which police and social services agreed, without consulting a medical practitioner, that the likely cause of vaginal bleeding in a four-year-old was eczema even though the child had made sexual allegations against a family member. |
| As a contrast, the way a detective who helped a 13-year-old who was having a sexual relationship with a 20-year-old, was also cited. The detective had quickly involved child care services, arrested the alleged perpetrator and took action to safeguard other children. | As a contrast, the way a detective who helped a 13-year-old who was having a sexual relationship with a 20-year-old, was also cited. The detective had quickly involved child care services, arrested the alleged perpetrator and took action to safeguard other children. |
| 'At a crossroads' | 'At a crossroads' |
| Further HMIC reports were also published examining how police deal with online exploitation of children and the way different forces share information. | Further HMIC reports were also published examining how police deal with online exploitation of children and the way different forces share information. |
| Dru Sharpling, who led the inspections, said: "Getting it right most of the time can never be the explanation for failures that have devastating consequences for the child, carers and families. | Dru Sharpling, who led the inspections, said: "Getting it right most of the time can never be the explanation for failures that have devastating consequences for the child, carers and families. |
| "Where cases of child abuse and neglect are straightforward, they are almost always dealt with promptly and efficiently. But often these cases are complicated and unique, so the processes for dealing with them have to adapt." | "Where cases of child abuse and neglect are straightforward, they are almost always dealt with promptly and efficiently. But often these cases are complicated and unique, so the processes for dealing with them have to adapt." |
| Home Office minister Karen Bradley said: "This is difficult and complex work but police forces must do all they can to improve their response to child sexual abuse and exploitation. | Home Office minister Karen Bradley said: "This is difficult and complex work but police forces must do all they can to improve their response to child sexual abuse and exploitation. |
| "We are committed to ensuring police have the resources they need and we have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat, providing a clear mandate for forces to collaborate across force boundaries, to safeguard children and to share intelligence and best practice." | "We are committed to ensuring police have the resources they need and we have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat, providing a clear mandate for forces to collaborate across force boundaries, to safeguard children and to share intelligence and best practice." |
| The National Police Chiefs Council - which represents senior ranking officers - said the HMIC found that "protecting vulnerable people is a priority for all police forces". | The National Police Chiefs Council - which represents senior ranking officers - said the HMIC found that "protecting vulnerable people is a priority for all police forces". |
| But Chief Constable Simon Bailey from the NPCC added: "We are at a crossroads. We have got to fundamentally change our approach to policing so that our absolute focus is on working proactively with other agencies to protect the public from harm committed on or offline." | But Chief Constable Simon Bailey from the NPCC added: "We are at a crossroads. We have got to fundamentally change our approach to policing so that our absolute focus is on working proactively with other agencies to protect the public from harm committed on or offline." |
| NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said a suggestion from HMIC that improvements were also needed in police investigations into online abuse was a "damning indictment". | |
| He said: "Despite national commitments and the dedication of officers tackling these darkest of crimes, at a local level vital opportunities to protect children are being missed." |