Licence to practice for child sexual abuse investigators

THE College of Policing has announced that it will pilot a new “licence to practice” approach for child sexual abuse investigators.

The licence aims to protect officers working in high-risk roles by ensuring they have the most up-to-date skills and are only moved into the position once they are accredited, in a similar way to those working in firearms and public order.

The pilot will be trialled “at a later date” and funded by the Home Office as part of a £2m package awarded to the College to transform the police service’s approach to vulnerability.

According to the College, the licence would protect the public by “ensuring high standards” and “could prevent officers and staff being asked to perform roles for which they have not received the appropriate learning and professional development”.

A wider roll-out of the “licence to practice” approach for the highest risk activities is being consulted on by the College through national and regional events.

Chief Constable Alex Marshall, CEO of the College of Policing, said: “To deliver the best service to the public we want our members who are overseeing cases involving vulnerability to benefit from an accredited qualification and undergo continuing professional development to keep their skills up to date and link learning directly to practice.”

New guidance will also be available next year for officers and staff carrying out roles that can cause psychological stress.

Adapted from military guidance, it will suggest ways of preventing and managing psychological risk for those working in areas such as firearms, undercover operatives, counter terrorism and child sexual exploitation.

Dr Ian Hesketh, a senior adviser on organisational development and wellbeing at the College, said: “Some roles in policing have the potential to impact on an individual’s emotional and mental wellbeing, such as viewing disturbing images and reports, reading accounts of violent actions, and dealing with day-to-day exposure to conflicts and crisis.

“The guidance will support police forces to oversee the management of psychological risk, particularly for officers and staff that carry out vulnerable roles.”