Conduct inter-agency review of child abuse investigation procedures to issue guidance

In the light of the recent experience gained in both England and Wales in major investigations of alleged wide ranging abuse of children in care/looked after children, an inter-agency review of the procedures followed and personnel employed in those investigations should now be arranged with a view to issuing practical procedural guidance for the future. In any event guidance is required to social services departments and police forces now in relation to: 82 (a) the safeguarding and preservation of social services files; (b) the safeguarding and preservation of police records of major investigations, including statements and the policy file; (c) access by the police to social services files; (d) the supply of information about alleged and suspected abusers by the police following an investigation; and (e) the sharing of information generally for criminal investigation and child protection purposes.