Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that family members who report paedophilia to the police are treated as victims instead of witnesses.

Unless a person is the subject of the abuse or behaviour reported to the police then they are not a ‘victim’ for the purposes of a criminal investigation or prosecution. A person who makes a complaint where they have not themselves suffered abuse, or is the subject of a complaint made by others, is a ‘witness’ in terms of involvement or participation in the Criminal Justice System process.

However, the police recognise the vulnerability of witnesses from family environments in coming forward to report such crimes. The College of Policing have published Authorised Professional Practice (APP) to assist the police in managing complex child abuse investigations.

The APP provides that where there may be an impact on those associated with the victims then support groups are available “to provide counselling and advice to those who have been affected by allegations of abuse involving persons close to them, such as relatives and associates of victims, witnesses and suspects. Some specialist sexual violence and abuse support services may also be available locally, offering support for victims and others, including siblings and non-abusing parents or carers. Details of these support groups should be made available to those who may need them. Children’s social care also has a role in taking account of any impact on the victims and others