Recurring concern

Unsafe investigation of child sexual assault allegations

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First reported 19 Nov 2019•Latest report 12 Nov 2020

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in the dedicated investigation of allegations involving child sexual assault or abuse, including specialist-officer allocation, child-sensitive investigative engagement, evidence preservation, investigative decision-making and relevant inter-agency working where these controls are specifically part of that investigation process.

Not included

Excludes generic police staffing, training, communication or evidence-handling deficiencies that are not specifically tied to investigating child sexual assault or abuse allegations.
Excludes failures in clinical treatment, safeguarding or prosecution processes where the child sexual assault investigation is not the deficient process.
Excludes investigations involving adults or non-sexual allegations unless the report explicitly connects them to the same child sexual assault investigation process.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 3
Date range: 2019–2020
Stated actions: 3

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

College of Policing1

Department for Education1

Department of Health and Social Care1

Home Office1

Metropolitan Police Service1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

12 Nov2020
East London
Concerns raised1
1. Failure to conduct child sexual assault investigations through a specialist officer or team
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 3
1. Action
  Carry out a cross-system review of the criminal justice response to rape and report a package of improvement actions.
  Stated by Home OfficeStated in progress
2. Action
  Publish a national strategy addressing all forms of child sexual abuse.
  Stated by Home OfficeStated planned
3. Action
  Continue prioritising child sexual abuse as a national threat in the Strategic Policing Requirement.
  Stated by Home OfficeStated in progress
Respondent positions 2
1. Position
  The allegation was considered non-complex, so specialist investigation was not required and responsibility appropriately remained with a Response Team officer.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceDisputes the concern
1. Position
  The Metropolitan Police Service will respond separately on specific investigation matters because it is operationally independent.
  Stated by Home OfficeRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Chelsie Violet Greatorex · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Chelsie Violet Greatorex took an overdose of prescribed medication on 10 March 2020 and died later that day despite emergency treatment. The report describes concerns about her anxiety as a complainant in a sexual assault case, delays in the investigation, the lack of specialist handling despite her being a child when the alleged assault occurred, and limited support after she contacted police.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to conduct child sexual assault investigations through a specialist officer or team
Wider context from the report
“b. Despite the fact that Ms Greatorex was a child when the events of the allegation took place, the investigation was not conducted by a specialist officer or team. ”
Source location
Chelsie Violet Greatorex · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Carry out a cross-system review of the criminal justice response to rape and report a package of improvement actions.

Verbatim wording from the response
“That is why, along with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office, the Home Office is currently carrying out a review of the criminal justice response to rape. The scope of the review covers the length of the criminal justice process, from police report and investigation through to final outcome in court, so that we can take a comprehensive view of any issues that need to be addressed within the system and take action accordingly.”

Source location
2021-0018-Response-from-Home-Office-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 27 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Publish a national strategy addressing all forms of child sexual abuse.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Recognising that Ms. Greatorex was 17 years old when she was sexually assaulted, you may also wish to be aware that the government will shortly be publishing a first of its kind national strategy on tackling all forms of child sexual abuse. A key element of this strategy will be working across government to improve the way the criminal justice system responds to child sexual abuse and to ensure victims and survivors receive the support they deserve. We will continue to prioritise child sexual abuse as a national threat in the Strategic Policing Requirement, to empower police forces to maximise their specialist skills and expertise to tackle these crimes.”

Source location
2021-0018-Response-from-Home-Office-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 27 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Continue prioritising child sexual abuse as a national threat in the Strategic Policing Requirement.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Recognising that Ms. Greatorex was 17 years old when she was sexually assaulted, you may also wish to be aware that the government will shortly be publishing a first of its kind national strategy on tackling all forms of child sexual abuse. A key element of this strategy will be working across government to improve the way the criminal justice system responds to child sexual abuse and to ensure victims and survivors receive the support they deserve. We will continue to prioritise child sexual abuse as a national threat in the Strategic Policing Requirement, to empower police forces to maximise their specialist skills and expertise to tackle these crimes.”

Source location
2021-0018-Response-from-Home-Office-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 27 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The allegation was considered non-complex, so specialist investigation was not required and responsibility appropriately remained with a Response Team officer.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The allegation Ms Greatorex made was considered at the outset by specialist officers and it was decided that due to the non-complex nature of the investigation, it would remain with a Response Team officer to investigate. The MPS General Investigation Policy states that “Where there is a requirement for ownership of crime investigations by the initial investigating officer, there may be occasions where the characteristics of specific investigations identify themselves as serious and/or complex. It is important that this is identified as soon as possible so that the most appropriate investigating unit is assigned to that investigation dependent on the seriousness and/or complexity. If serious and/or complex characteristics are present, then CID should be approached to take on that investigation”.”

Source location
2021-0018-Response-from-MPS-Redaction
Page 2 · response
Published 27 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The Metropolitan Police Service will respond separately on specific investigation matters because it is operationally independent.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In your letter you ask that I ensure the matters you have raised are considered by the Metropolitan Police Service. I should stress that the Metropolitan Police Service is operationally independent and, as such, will respond separately on the specifics of the investigation in question. I am therefore responding to the Coroner’s concerns only in so far as they relate to national policy.”

Source location
2021-0018-Response-from-Home-Office-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 27 January 2021
Open published response
19 Nov2019
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
1. Failure to conduct a further face-to-face conversation with the child
2. Lack of officer capability in joint working with social services and applying the voice of the child
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

Katie Croft · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Katie Croft was a vulnerable child who had reported abuse and later disclosed thoughts of self-harm. She was found suspended from a ligature at home, sustained catastrophic brain damage, and died in hospital on 15 January 2019. Concerns included shortcomings in the police and social-care responses, failures to fully hear Katie’s voice and share relevant information, and uncertainty about guidance for schools teaching material involving suicide to vulnerable pupils.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to conduct a further face-to-face conversation with the child
Wider context from the report
“1. The inquest was told that GMP followed their own guidance which accorded with that of the College of Policing into the level of expertise of the officer allocated to investigate Katie’s allegations. As a result of this the case was not dealt with by an experienced Public Protection or specialist sexual offences trained officer. It was allocated to a probationary police constable with approximately 6 months experience. The officer did not seize the phone which contained key social media contents until her third visit on the initial evening the offence was disclosed. The allocated officer was not experienced in joint working with social services or familiar with the concept of the voice of the child and what it would mean in such a case. At the time the decision was made by police to NFA matters there was no discussion about whether there could be a victimless prosecution; it was not established if the initial account was recorded on body worn footage or the extent of the social media contact by the suspect and the nature of any offences that could be revealed by those messages. No attempt was made to have a further face to face conversation with Katie; ”
Source location
Katie Croft · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of officer capability in joint working with social services and applying the voice of the child
Wider context from the report
“1. The inquest was told that GMP followed their own guidance which accorded with that of the College of Policing into the level of expertise of the officer allocated to investigate Katie’s allegations. As a result of this the case was not dealt with by an experienced Public Protection or specialist sexual offences trained officer. It was allocated to a probationary police constable with approximately 6 months experience. The officer did not seize the phone which contained key social media contents until her third visit on the initial evening the offence was disclosed. The allocated officer was not experienced in joint working with social services or familiar with the concept of the voice of the child and what it would mean in such a case. At the time the decision was made by police to NFA matters there was no discussion about whether there could be a victimless prosecution; it was not established if the initial account was recorded on body worn footage or the extent of the social media contact by the suspect and the nature of any offences that could be revealed by those messages. No attempt was made to have a further face to face conversation with Katie; ”
Source location
Katie Croft · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Failure to conduct child sexual assault investigations through a specialist officer or team

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2

Concerns raised2

Failure to conduct a further face-to-face conversation with the child

Lack of officer capability in joint working with social services and applying the voice of the child

Actions described in response 3

Respondent positions 2