New victim and survivor engagement resources for CSAE investigations
We are pleased to share a new suite of resources developed to support victim and survivor centered practice throughout child sexual abuse and exploitation investigations. The resources provide practical guidance, conversation prompts and tools to help officers communicate effectively, build trust and reduce avoidable disengagement.
The guidance has been informed by consultation with policing professionals from across England and Wales and insight drawn from the National Association of People Abused in Childhood’s (NAPAC) Redefining Justice research, which captured more than 46,000 conversations with survivors about their experiences of seeking justice. Together, these insights highlight the significant role that communication, consistency and transparency play in shaping how victims and survivors experience investigations and wider criminal justice processes.
For many victims and survivors, the quality of engagement they receive can have a profound impact on their trust and confidence in the investigation, their willingness to remain engaged with the process, and their overall wellbeing. The resources recognise that every interaction matters and provide practical guidance to help officers respond in ways that are trauma-informed, empowering and focused on the individual's needs and choices.
The suite includes guidance covering every stage of a CSAE investigation, from first contact and safeguarding through to charging decisions, victim disengagement and re-engagement. It also contains dedicated advice on supporting child victims and survivors, accessibility considerations, and practical language prompts to help officers navigate complex and often highly sensitive conversations.
By embedding these approaches into everyday practice, forces and partner organisations can help reduce retraumatisation, strengthen trust, support meaningful participation in justice processes and create more positive experiences for victims and survivors navigating the criminal justice system. As the guidance itself makes clear, how survivors experience the process matters just as much as the outcome.
ACC Becky Riggs. NPCC Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation said:
"Victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation deserve to be treated with compassion, respect and understanding at every stage of the criminal justice process. While outcomes are important, we know from listening to survivors that the way they are spoken to, supported and kept informed throughout an investigation, can have a lasting impact on their trust, confidence and recovery."
"These resources have been developed to give practical tools to help professionals who support victims and survivors communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and create a more supportive experience throughout what can be an incredibly difficult journey.
"I am grateful to our partners at NAPAC and to the many survivors and practitioners whose experiences and expertise have shaped this guidance. Together, we have created resources that will help policing organisations place the voices and experiences of victims and survivors at the centre of their work and continue driving improvements in the response to child sexual abuse and exploitation."