Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Williams of Trafford on 16 October (HL1670), whether they have plans to ensure improvements to police training in order to improve the manner in which allegations of child sexual abuse are investigated.

As the professional body for policing, the College of Policing is responsible for setting national standards and guidance in this area.

The Government has provided millions of pounds of extra investment through the Police Transformation Fund to transform policing to respond to changing crimes and threats. Through this fund we have already awarded £1.9 million to the College of Policing to transform policing’s approach to crimes against vulnerable people, including child sexual abuse.

The package includes piloting a licence to practise which will ensure that only those officers who are qualified to carry out specialist investigations in high risk areas like child protection, are able to do so. This will be supported by a code of practice for CSA investigations, which will help chief officers implement supporting structures needed to ensure forces are undertaking these investigations efficiently and effectively.