NCJ Number
57697
Journal
Police Review Volume: 87 Issue: 4497 Dated: (MARCH 30, 1979) Pages: 292-495
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A BRITISH COMMUNITY'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO PROTECTING ABUSED CHILDREN AND TO HELPING ABUSING PARENTS IS DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE POLICE ROLE.
Abstract
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE'S EFFORTS TO CURB CHILD ABUSE BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1970'S WHEN THE COMMUNITY'S POLICE SURGEON INITIATED LIAISON AMONG POLICE, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN CHILD ABUSE CASES. IN 1975, THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN OPENED A SPECIAL UNIT (ONE OF SEVEN THROUGHOUT ENGLAND) IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, PROVIDING A FOCAL POINT FOR THE HANDLING OF ALL CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE COUNTY. EVERY AGENCY THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH CHILDREN INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTICES, AND POLICE, HAS A SET OF GUIDELINES INDICATING WHAT ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN WHEN ABUSE IS SUSPECTED. WHENEVER A CASE OF SUSPECTED ABUSE IS REPORTED, THE UNIT CALLS A CASE CONFERENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES, AND A DECISION IS MADE CONCERNING HOW BEST TO PROTECT THE CHILD INVOLVED. THE SPECIAL UNIT COORDINATES ALL CASEWORK, MAINTAINS A CHILD ABUSE REGISTER, AND OPERATES A CASE-MONITORING SYSTEM TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT NO ABUSED CHILD IS FORGOTTEN. THE UNIT ALSO OPERATES AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM OF COUNSELING AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR ABUSING PARENTS. POLICE, WHO ATTEND ALL CASE CONFERENCES, RETAIN THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ABOUT PROSECUTING ABUSING PARENTS. BUT THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AMONG ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED THAT THE CHILD'S WELFARE ALWAYS COMES FIRST. THERE ARE SEVERAL INDICATIONS THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF SERIOUS INJURIES AND REINJURIES. THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE SPECIAL UNIT IS 80,000 POUNDS PER YEAR, 75 PERCENT OF WHICH IS PAID BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. A COPY OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE GUIDELINES FOR CHILD ABUSE CASES AND TWO CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATING HOW THE SPECIAL UNIT WORKS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)