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Chapter 11: Protocol for Joint Working between Police and Children's Social Care for undertaking Section 47 Enquiries

RELEVANT CHAPTERS

Section 47 Enquiries and Medical Assessments of Action to be taken where a Child is at Risk of Significant Harm Procedure.

Safeguarding Children Abused Through Domestic Violence

Information Sharing

Luton and South Central Bedfordshire - Procedure and Protocol for undertaking of Child Protection Medical Assessments

Bedford Pathway for Child Protection Medicals - please refer to Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board's website

Guidelines for Assessing Children and Families affected by Adults Viewing Child Sexual Abuse Images on the Internet

RELATED GUIDANCE

Achieving Best Evidence Guidance 2011

Supporting victims and witnesses with a learning disability

AMENDMENTS

This updated version of the Joint Protocol was included in the manual in January 2012.


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Purpose of Enquiry
  3. Responding to child welfare concerns where there is or may be an alleged crime
  4. Protocol for dealing with allegations of possession of indecent images
  5. Protocol for managing persons who pose a risk to children

    Appendix A: Bedfordshire Access Criteria
    Appendix B: Bedford Borough Multi-agency referral form
    Appendix C: Central Bedfordshire Council - Children's Social Care Referral Form
    Appendix D: Luton CAF Referral Template
    Appendix E: Luton Child Protection Referral Template to the Initial Assessment Team
    Appendix F: Home Office List of Offences Against Children


1. Introduction

1.1 This protocol is produced on behalf of the Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough Council Safeguarding Children Boards to satisfy the requirement of Working Together 2010, setting out how Section 47 Enquiries and associated police investigations should be conducted, and in particular, in what circumstances your enquiries are necessary and/or appropriate.
1.2  At the initial stages of an enquiry the sharing of information, the quality of the communication, shared decision making and willingness to jointly respond, are essential in deciding how Section 47 Enquiries should be conducted and, in particular, the circumstances in which joint enquiries are appropriate. It is not possible for guidance to cover all eventualities.  The over-riding principle must be the safeguarding of children and compliance with the law and good practice guidance.  It is essential that the key personnel in each agency maintain a frequent dialogue.
1.3

Section 47 Enquiries by the Police and Children's Social Care should be child focused, as well as addressing the parallel priorities of both agencies:

  • Children's Social Care's primary focus is the assessment of Children in Need under the Children Act 1989 and enquiries relating to children who are suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm;
  • The primary focus for the Police is to investigate criminal offences relating to child abuse;
  • Both aspects of the enquiry are equally important to protect the children from potential and/or further harm.


2. Purpose of Enquiry

  • To ensure the protection of the child is paramount;
  • To obtain as far as possible, evidence as to whether abuse has resulted/or is likely to result in Significant Harm;
  • To provide an effective, coordinated approach for dealing with child protection;
  • Referrals where it is alleged that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm;
  • To ensure the child feels listened to;
  • To ensure the child receives appropriate help (e.g. protection and/or medical attention);
  • To help keep to the absolute minimum the number of times the child is interviewed and medically examined;
  • To ensure that relevant parents/ carers, where appropriate, are involved in and informed about the enquiry and are prepared for any child protection conference, which may follow;
  • To create the basis for future help and support to the child and family on a planned coordinated basis;
  • To obtain the best evidence for any future trial and hearing;
  • To ensure an accurate record is maintained on the enquiry and decision making process;
  • To ensure post enquiry intervention strategies are in place;
  • Should disagreements occur then a Team Manager or Deputy Team Manager should liaise with a Detective Sergeant from the unit in Order to agree a way forward.


3. Responding to child welfare concerns where there is or may be an alleged crime

3.1 Whenever Children's Social Care have a case referred to them which constitutes, or may constitute, a criminal offence against a child, they should always discuss the case with the Public Referral Unit on 01234 846960 (PRU) immediately in order to establish if the matter requires a Strategy Meeting to determine if the child or young person is suffering Significant Harm or is at risk of harm. A case can be escalated back to a joint enquiry at any time during the process should further evidence suggest this is required. This is agreed by the Police and Social Care.
3.2 The police should normally work in partnership with Children's Social Care and/or other agencies.  There will be less serious cases where it is determined that a crime has not been committed. In these circumstances, it is agreed by both agencies that the best interests of the child are served by a Children's Social Care led intervention rather than a full police investigation at that time.

Actions following a referral where a child is suspected to be suffering or likely to be suffering Significant Harm

3.3 When Children's Social Care receive a referral that indicates that there is risk to the life of a child or a likelihood of serious immediate harm, they must initiate a Strategy Discussion by telephone with the Police immediately to discuss planned emergency action.
3.4 In other cases where a child is suspected to be suffering, or likely to suffer Significant Harm, Children's Social Care must contact the Public Referral Unit on the same working day to share information about the concerns and/or allegations in order to reach an agreement in relation to whether a Strategy Meeting is necessary.
3.5 Equally, the police must refer by telephone any child/ren that they believe to be at risk of harm to Children's Social Care within similar timescales, followed by the relevant referral form.
3.6 On receipt of a referral, both agencies must reach an agreement in relation to whether a Strategy Discussion/Meeting is necessary and this should  take place as soon as practicable, unless there is an indication of serious risk to a child/young person, in which case the Strategy Meeting should occur within the same day.

Strategy Discussion/Meeting

3.7 Whenever there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, there should be an initial Strategy Discussion and a planned Strategy Meeting within 24 hours of the referral. This should include all relevant professionals including the referring agency. Telephone discussions may have to occur instead of a meeting on occasion. However, these should not be the standard format for Strategy Meetings.
3.8 The Strategy Discussion/ Meeting should be convened and chaired by Children's Social Care. Those participating should bring all relevant background history information known to their agency for discussion. They should be able to make decisions on behalf of their agencies.
3.9 If the child is currently or has recently been assessed or supported by a paediatrician or specialist medical consultant, as either an inpatient /outpatient either managed by an acute health service provider/community health service provider, including Child Development Centres, the Lead Medical Practitioner or Senior Nurse/Therapist should be requested to share proportionate information in the form of a written report within 24 hours of receipt of the request, dependent upon the level of significant/likely Significant Harm.
3.10

A Strategy Discussion/Meeting may take place following a referral, or at any other time (for example, if concerns about Significant Harm emerge in respect of child receiving support under Section 17 Children Act 1989).

The discussion should be used to:

  • Share available information, to include historical information about the parents and children;
  • Agree the conduct and timing of any criminal investigation;
  • Decide whether a Core Assessment under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (a Section 47 Enquiry) should be initiated, or continued if it has already begun or if the intervention will proceed under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
  • Plan how the Section 47 Enquiry should be undertaken (if one is to be initiated), including the need for medical treatment, and who will carry out what actions, by when and for what purpose;
  • Those making enquiries about a child should always be alert to the potential needs and safety of any siblings, or other children in the household of the child in question. In addition, enquiries may also need to cover children in other households, with whom an alleged offender may have had contact;
  • Agree what action is required immediately to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, and/or provide interim services and support. If the child is in hospital, decisions should also be made about how to secure the safe discharge of the child; 
  • Determine what information from the Strategy Discussion will be shared with the family, unless such information sharing may place a child at increased risk of Significant Harm or jeopardise police investigations into any alleged offence(s); and
  • Determine if legal action is required;
  • Agree who should be interviewed, by whom, for what purpose, and when. The way in which interviews are conducted can play a significant part in minimising any distress caused to children, and increasing the likelihood of maintaining constructive working relationships with families. When a criminal offence may have been committed against a child, the timing and handling of interviews with victims, their families and witnesses, can have important implications for the collection and preservation of evidence;
  • Agree, in particular, how the child's wishes and feelings will be ascertained so that they can be taken into account when making decisions under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989;
  • In the light of the race and ethnicity of the child and family, consider how this should be taken into account, and establishing whether an interpreter will be required; and
  • Consider the needs of other children who may be affected, for example, siblings and other children, such as those living in the same establishment, in contact with alleged abusers;
  • Agree a date by which the outcome of any enquiries/investigations and agreed actions will be reviewed;
  • Coordinate a media strategy, if relevant and the Police to consider the community impact;
  • Include an overall risk assessment of the presenting circumstances and determine how it will be reduced.
3.11 Where Section 47 Enquiries have been initiated, consideration should be given as to whether a Child Protection Conference should be convened.

Chairing the Strategy Meeting
3.12 The Strategy Meeting should be chaired by an experienced professional from the Police or Children's Social Care. This includes Team Manager, Deputy Team Manager or a Principal Social Worker. Police should be represented by a Detective Sergeant level or above given the specialist nature of the enquiries.

Recording Strategy Discussions/Meetings
3.13 Any information shared, all decisions reached, and the basis for those decisions should be clearly recorded by the chair, agreed by all attendees, signed and circulated including to any other relevant professionals and agencies.
3.14 When Police and other professionals receive the copy of this record, they should check the content and any inaccuracies should be reported immediately so that amendments can be made or matters resolved between the relevant managers.

Criteria for Joint and Single Agency Enquiries:

Deciding the Threshold for initiating Section 47 Enquiries

3.15 The criteria are set out in the respective authorities' Children in Need Procedures and Section 47(1) of the Children Act 1989.
3.16 If at any point during an Initial or Core Assessment, it becomes apparent there are concerns of Significant Harm to a child/young person, a Strategy Meeting should be convened.
3.17 A Core Assessment is the tool for recording the content of the Section 47 Enquiry is carried out. It should be led by a qualified and experienced Social Worker and will determine whether action is required to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child or children who are the subjects of the enquiry.

Single agency enquiry - Children's Social Care:
3.18

A Strategy Meeting/Discussion will determine if a single agency enquiry is appropriate.

Circumstances when a joint enquiry is likely to be necessary are:
3.19
  • Allegations/reasonable suspicions that Sexual Abuse of a child has been committed by a person known to a child;
  • Allegations/reasonable suspicions of physical injury of a child by a person known to the child;
  • Allegations/reasonable suspicions of cruelty or neglect which may be actionable under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.  (This section of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 includes offences of assaulting, ill treating or abandoning the child, or causing or procuring or exposing the child to any of these so that the child suffers unnecessarily or his/her health is damaged);
  • When a person who is believed to pose a risk and/or potential risk to a child/young person is known to be living in a household or having contact with a child/young person;
  • When a disclosure is required under the Child sex Offender 'disclosure scheme, a Strategy Meeting will be held.
3.20 Additionally, there may be other circumstances where a joint enquiry is necessary, outside of the criteria above e.g. where it is evident that input from the Police will enable Children's Social Care to protect and secure the best outcome for the child.

Actions following the Strategy Discussion/Meeting

3.21 All actions and decisions taken at the Strategy Meeting should be kept under constant review by the Social Care Team Manager. The outcome of any enquiries and/or investigations and agreed actions must be reviewed by the date agreed at the Strategy Discussion/Meeting
3.22 Significant Harm to children gives rise to both child welfare concerns and law enforcement concerns, and Section 47 Enquiries may run concurrently with police investigations concerning possible associated crime(s).
3.23 The police have a duty to carry out thorough and professional investigations into allegations of crime, and the obtaining of clear strong evidence is in the best interests of a child, since it makes it less likely that a child victim will have to give evidence in criminal court. Enquiries may, therefore, give rise to information that is relevant to decisions that will be taken by both Children's Social Care and the police. The findings from the assessment and/or police investigation should be used to inform plans about future support and help to the child and family. They may also contribute to legal proceedings, whether criminal, civil or both.

Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries
3.24 At any time the concerns about a child are substantiated, and the child is judged to be at continuing risk of Significant Harm, a Child Protection Conference should be convened by Children's Social Care.  The recommendation to convene a Child Protection Conference will normally be taken at a Strategy Discussion/Meeting and the request for a conference, endorsed by the team manager, should be made to the Conference and Review Service for a decision.
3.25 The Strategy Discussion/Meeting where the decision to initiate Section 47 Enquiries was taken should be identified and recorded as the last Strategy Discussion/Meeting and a Child Protection Conference should take place within 15 working days of this discussion/ meeting
3.26 Where the concerns about a child are substantiated but the child is not judged to be at continuing risk of Significant Harm, the decision to complete a Core Assessment and continue to offer services under a Child in Need Plan (under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989) or take no further action should be recorded and endorsed by a team manager (Children's Social Care).

Joint Visits with Police and Children's Social Care:
3.27 Prior to any joint interview, whether to be Achieving Best Evidence recorded or not, the investigating officers (police and social worker) must plan how the interview will be conducted.  Account should be taken of the guidance contained in "Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses Including Children". (Chapter 2, 2.47 - 2.49)
3.28

Factors detailed in this guidance include:

  • Child's age;
  • Child's race, culture, ethnicity and first language;
  • Child's gender and sexuality;
  • Any physical and/or mental needs;
  • Child's cognitive abilities (e.g. memory, attention);
  • Child's linguistic abilities.
3.29 A written record of the plan will be produced and signed by both parties to achieve the best evidence and a copy of this form should be retained by both the Police Officer and Social Worker.
3.30 The Social Worker and/or Police Officer should consult with the parents to ascertain the facts of the situation, unless to do so would jeopardise the child's safety. The process of a Section 47 Enquiry should also be explained to them.
3.31 Consideration should be given for parents where English is not the first language and interpreters provided if necessary.  Children Social Care and the Police should identify which agency should access interpreting facilities. Consideration should be given around race, culture, religion, disability, health, gender and sexuality of the parents.
3.32 Both the Police and Children Social Care should attend the initial visit with the child/young person.  The purpose is to actually see the child/young person and establish their welfare, and undertake a pre-interview discussion if appropriate.
3.33 All children in the household should be spoken to during the enquiry and this should be taken into account in the planning stage. If they raise concerns relating to harm they should also be subject to the enquiries and records kept.

Achieving Best Evidence and Consent
3.34 Permission to interview a child, whether Achieving Best Evidence recorded or not, will normally be sought from a person with Parental Responsibility for the child.
3.35 If it is considered necessary to talk to the child without contact with a parent then see paragraphs 5.64 to 5.67 of 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2010) and Achieving Best Evidence.  This should be in exceptional circumstances only and the reasons clearly recorded.
3.36

Occasions when the investigating team need to interview a child without the knowledge of the parent or carer would include:

  • The possibility that a child might be threatened or  otherwise coerced into silence;
  • A strong likelihood that evidence might be destroyed;
  • The child does not wish the parent to be involved at that stage, and is competent to make such a decision.
3.37 Proceeding with the interview without parental knowledge will need to be carefully managed.
3.38 The decision about when to inform the parent or carer will have a bearing on the conduct of police investigations. The Strategy Discussion should therefore decide how and when parents/carers will be informed and their subsequent level of participation.
3.39 Prior to the Achieving Best Evidence interview, the child/young person should be given enough information to assist with his/her decision-making.
3.40 The Achieving Best Evidence interview should only take place if the professional assessment is that the child/young person will be able to cope with the circumstances and questions being asked.
3.41 If a child is too young to give consent, this should then be obtained from a parent.  Exceptionally, a child may need to be interviewed without the knowledge of their parent(s) or carers.  Consideration should be given to providing an advocate to support the child prior to and after the interview process.
3.42 Interviewers are responsible for ensuring that, as far as possible, the child is freely participating in the interview, and not merely complying with a request from adult authority figures.
  Please see additional Practice guidance on investigative interviews with children and young people and Practice guidance on investigative interviews with disabled children and young people at Bedfordshire LSCB website

Recording

3.43

When a joint interview is Achieving Best Evidence recorded at the police interview suite, this will provide the main record.  However in addition a brief written record of all interviews should also be completed. This record should include

  • A record of the content of the interview;
  • The conclusions arising from the interview; and
  • The outcome and actions agreed by the Police Officer and Social Worker.
3.44 A copy of the written record signed by the social worker and the police officer will be completed as soon as possible following the interview and no later than 2 working days and a copy retained on both Police and Children's Social Care files.

Consideration of a Medical in the Strategy Meeting
3.45 The purpose of the medical examination must be identified in the Strategy Meeting - i.e. secure forensic evidence, or obtain medical documentation.
3.46 Consider who would be the best person to explain to the child what the medical examination entails and discuss with the child to obtain their consent.
3.47 A child/young person should always give consent except in very serious cases of abuse in young infants.
3.48 If the child/young person cannot give consent then an adult with Parental Responsibility must, except in cases where very serious abuse or fatality in young infants
3.49 Wherever possible (and appropriate) the family member of the child's choice should accompany him/her for the medical.

Conclusion
3.50 The above criteria for the joint or single agency response cannot be prescriptive or exhaustive and judgement will need to be exercised in individual circumstances.
3.51 A flexible approach is required ensuring that both agencies respond to harm in a consistent manner.
3.52

On occasion the frontline manager of both agencies may not be able to be able to reach a consensus about the need for a joint enquiry. If, following discussion between the Police (Detective Sergeant) and Children's Services (Team Manager), disagreement remains, the matter should be referred to the Child Abuse Investigations Unit and the Head of Service for Safeguarding and Children in Care for resolution. These discussions must be recorded and a copy kept on respective agencies files.

For additional guidance please also see Resolution of Professional Disagreements relating to the Safeguarding of Children and the Escalation of Professional Concerns Procedure


4. Protocol for dealing with allegations of possession of indecent images

  See also Guidelines for Assessing Children and Families affected by Adults Viewing Child Sexual Abuse Images on the Internet
4.1 Allegations of possession of indecent images of children do not feature per se within Working Together 2010.  It is however very likely that what maybe initially reported as possession of indecent images could, with due investigation, become more serious concerns of contact sexual abuse against children.
42 This type of abuse could range from sexual abuse as part of the spiral of sexual abuse against children to offences involving perpetrators filming children for sexual purposes either for themselves or for wider distribution to others.
4.3 It must be recognised that a link exists between people who collect or look at abusive images of children and hands-on contact abuse. All agencies, therefore, have a clear responsibility to identify children that might be at risk from such offenders and to utilise the procedures within Working Together 2010 to ensure their safety.
4.4 It must be recognised that a link exists between people who collect or look at abusive images of children and hands-on contact abuse. All agencies, therefore, have a clear responsibility to identify children that might be at risk from such offenders and to utilise the procedures within Working Together 2010 to ensure their safety.
4.5 It is essential that an early assessment is made of the risks posed to any children who have contact with the suspect.

Procedure for dealing with allegations of possession of indecent images
4.6 Allegations of possession of indecent images of children come from a number of channels.
4.7 The main source for referrals is - CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Services - Central Referral Unit based in London) following information they have received often from police forces around the world that there are suspects living within the county boundary.
4.8 In nearly all cases it is unknown at the time of referral whether or not the suspect has children within their own/extended family or has access to children in any capacity either through their employment or recreational activities.
4.9 In all cases the principles of 'Working Together' will be adhered to and early contact will be made with Children's Social Care to establish if there are children connected with the suspect.
4.10 As soon as it is established that there are children either in the suspect's home or whom the suspect has contact to it, then a Strategy Meeting should be called to determine if the children are considered to be at risk from the suspect or others.
4.11 Due regard needs to be given to the necessity of an immediate intervention but this should be balanced with the need to seize computer equipment for forensic analysis. The welfare of the child however remains paramount and a decision by the Strategy Meeting for an immediate intervention to talk to the children to assess the risk of Significant Harm will determine the timescale for Police action.
4.12 Regard needs to be given to combine both the arrest and subsequent interviewing of any children if appropriate so that evidence is preserved whenever possible. This evidence, usually in the form of computer data, will be evidential, if positive, in both criminal proceedings and the family court should matters progress that far.
4.13 In virtually all cases the suspect will be arrested and questioned regarding the allegations. They will also be asked about their access to computers and more particularly, asked about their involvement with any children regardless of capacity. Such connections can be hard to make during the search/arrest progress.
4.14 If at any time in the process it becomes known that the suspect has an involvement with children then an appropriate assessment will be made to decide if the case now requires a Strategy Meeting to be held.  This could be in the Children's Social Care area in which the suspect resides or another Children's Social Care area.
4.15

The clear aim of any investigation is to identify any children who may have suffered Significant Harm and together with Children's Social Care undertake Section 47 Enquiries if appropriate.

Please see additional guidelines for assessing children and families affected by adults viewing child sexual abuse images on the Internet at Bedfordshire LSCB website


5. Protocol for managing persons who pose a risk to children

5.1 The term 'Schedule One Offender' is often used to describe someone who has been convicted of an offence against children as listed under Schedule One of the Children and Young Person's Act 1933.  This does not mean however that the person is a future risk of harm to children and would not necessarily mean that there was any statutory requirement in relation to child protection issues. This would be determined through assessment of their circumstances and any children they may have contact with.
5.2 The term of 'Schedule One Offender' is no longer used therefore and has been replaced by the term 'Risk to Children'

Procedure for People who are a Risk to Children
5.3 If a person who poses a risk to children moves into a family where there are children, a Strategy Discussion must always be called to establish the offender's history and possible risks using the Home Office circular guidance 16/2005.  This may not necessarily result in a joint Section 47 Enquiry.  Police and Children's Social Care will work together to ensure the safety of the child/ren who may be vulnerable.

Procedure for People who are a Risk to Children
5.4 The decision to make a disclosure under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS) should be a multi-agency decision and should not be made solely by the Police.
5.5 Where the subject of the disclosure is a person who meets the MAPPA arrangements criteria the decision should be made by way of a MAPPA meeting.
5.6 Where the subject does not meet the MAPPA criteria the meeting will then take place via safeguarding children procedures in the form of a strategy meeting or if appropriate case conference.
5.7 In cases where safeguarding procedures are to be followed the Police will make a referral to children services that is clearly marked showing the meeting is for the purpose of discussion around the need to make a disclosure under the CSODS legislation.
5.8 The disclosure itself will normally be made on a single agency basis by the Police, unless there is information available to the strategy meeting that would indicate a child is in need of services or is at risk of significant harm.
5.9 In the case of a child being in need of services or at risk of significant harm the principles of 'Working Together' will be adhered to and a joint visit may be more appropriate.


Appendix A: Bedfordshire Access Criteria

Click here to view Appendix A: Bedfordshire Access Criteria


Appendix B: Bedford Borough Multi-agency referral form

Click here to view Appendix B - Bedford Borough Multi-agency referral form


Appendix C: Central Bedfordshire Council - Children's Social Care Referral Form

Click here to view Appendix C: Central Bedfordshire Council - Children's Social Care Referral Form


Appendix D: Luton CAF Referral Template

Click here to view Appendix D: Luton CAF Referral Template


Appendix E: Luton Child Protection Referral Template to the Initial Assessment Team

Click here to view Appendix E: Luton Child Protection Referral Template to the Initial Assessment Team


Appendix F: Home Office List of Offences Against Children


ALPHABETICAL LIST OF OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

Offences Act Section
Abduction of a woman by force or for the sake of her property (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 9
Abduction of Child in Care/ Police Protection .. take away/induce away/assist to run away/ keep away Children Act 1989 Section 49
Abduction of defective from parent or guardian (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 21
Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 from parent or guardian (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 20
Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 from parent or guardian (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 19
Abuse of position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 19
Abuse of position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 17
Abuse of position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 18
Abuse of position of trust: sexual activity with a child Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 16
Abuse of Trust (Repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences (Amendment ) Act 2000 Section 3
Administering a subject with intent Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 61
Administering drugs to obtain or facilitate intercourse of a girl under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 4
Administering Poison or wounding with intent to murder a child under 18 Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 11
Admission of Children under 14 to a Bar -Licensee to allow/ Cause/procure child to be in bar/ attempt to cause/procure The Licensing Act 1964 Section 168
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide of a person under 18 Suicide Act 1961 Section 2
Allowing a child or young person under 16 to be in a brothel Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 3
Allowing children under 16 to take part in performances endangering life or limb Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 23
Applying for/ knowingly offer position to Disqualified person Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 Sec 35 (1) & (2)
Arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 50
Arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 14
Assault by penetration Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 2
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 47
Assault of a child under 13 by penetration Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 6
Assault with intent to commit buggery with a person under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 16
Attempt in relation to offences under section 2,5,6,7,10,11,12,22 and 23 Sexual Offences Act 1956 *********************
Attempt, conspiracy, incitement, aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring in relation to any of the offences from Sexual Offences Act 2003. Sexual Offences Act 2003 *********************
Buggery (attempt or commit) where the victim is under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12
Burglary (entering a building or part of building with intent to rape a child Theft Act 1968 Section 9
Care workers: causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 41
Care workers: causing or inciting sexual activity (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 39
Care workers: sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 40
Care workers: sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 38
Causing a child to watch a sexual act Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 12
Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 4
Causing a person with a mental disorder to engage in or agree to engage in sexual activity by inducement, threat or deception (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 35
Causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act by inducement, threat or deception Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 37
Causing a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to watch a sexual act (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 33
Causing or allowing persons under 16 to be used for begging Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 4
Causing or encouraging prostitution of defective (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 29
Causing or encouraging prostitution of, or intercourse with, or indecent assault on, girl under 16 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 28
Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 10
Causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 8
Causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 31
Causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 48
Causing or inciting prostitution for gain Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 52
Causing prostitution of a girl under 16 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 22
Causing/allowing persons under 16 to be begging Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 4
Child destruction Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1861 Section 1
Child sex offences committed by a children or young persons Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 13
Child Stealing or receiving a stolen child Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 56
Committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence (if intended offence is against a child) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 62
Common law assault or battery Common law  
Conspiring or soliciting to commit murder Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 4
Controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 49
Controlling prostitution for gain Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 53
Cruelty to a person under sixteen Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 1
Detention of a girl under 18 in a brothel or other premises (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 24
Drunk in Charge of a child under 7 yrs Licensing Act 1902 Section 2
Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 11
Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder impeding choice (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 32
Engaging in sexual activity in the presence, procured by inducement, threat or deception, of a person with a mental disorder (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 36
Exposing a child under 7 to risk of burning. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 11
Exposing a child, whereby life is endangered Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 27
Exposure Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 66
False imprisonment Common law  
Give/ Cause to be given Intoxicating Liquor to a child under 5 yrs Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 5
Importation of goods including indecent photographs of persons under 16 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 Section 17
Incest by a man where the victim is under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 10
Incest by a woman where the victim is under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 11
Inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 26
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse (repealed by the 2003 Act) Criminal Law Act 1977 Section 54
Indecency between men where one or both parties are under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 13
Indecent assault on a female under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 14
Indecent assault on a male under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 15
Indecent conduct towards young child (repealed by the 2003 Act) Indecency with Children Act 1860 Section 1(1)
Indecent exposure (repealed by 2003 Act) Town Police Clauses Act 1847 Section 28
Indecent photographs of children Protection of Children Act 1978 Section 1
Inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 34
Infanticide Infanticide Act 1938 Section 1
Intercourse with a girl between 13 and 16 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 6
Intercourse with a girl under 13 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 5
Intercourse with a woman who has a mental disorder (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 7
Kidnapping Common law  
Living on earnings of male prostitution Sexual Offences Act 1967 Section 5
Making a threat to kill a child Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 16
Maliciously administering poison so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm on a child under 18 Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 23
Man living on earnings of a prostitute (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 30
Manslaughter of a child or young person under 18 Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 5
Meeting a child following sexual grooming etc. Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 15
Murder of a child under 18 Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Section 1
Murder or manslaughter of a child or young person Common law  
Offence of abduction of a child by parent Child Abduction Act 1984 Section 1
Paying for the sexual services of a child Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 47
Permits defective to use premises for intercourse (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 27
Permitting a girl between 13 and 16 to use premises for intercourse (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 26
Permitting a girl under 18 to use premises for intercourse (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 25
Possession of indecent photographs of children Criminal Justice Act 1988 Section 160
Procuration of girl under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 23
Procurement of a defective (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 9
Procurement of a girl under 18 by false pretences (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 3
Procurement of a girl under 18 by threats (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 2
Procuring others to commit homosexual acts (Repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1967 Section 4
Rape Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 1
Rape of a child under 13 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 5
Rape of a child under 18 (repealed by 2003 Act) Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1
Recovery of missing or unlawfully held children Children Act 1989 Section 50
Sexual Activity with a Child Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 9
Sexual activity with a child family member Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 25
Sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice (where the victim is under 18) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 30
Sexual assault Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 3
Sexual assault of a child under 13 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 7
Sexual Intercourse with patients (where the victim is under 18) Mental Health Act 1959 Section 128
Supplying or offering to supply a Class A drug to a child Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Section 4
Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 57
Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 59
Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 58
Trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence (if intended offence is against a child) Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 63
Voyeurism Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 67
Woman exercising control over a prostitute. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 31
Wounding and causing grievous bodily harm Offence Against the Person Act 1861 Sections 18 and 19
     
Please note that if an offence is listed above it's inclusion here is due to the fact that the victim was under 18 years of age.
     
List compiled 2004 - Home Office    

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