“I think Satan gets brought in because he’s very handy for terrifying small children” *

Today (Thursday 3 July) the National Police Chiefs’ Council in partnership with the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) is publishing Organised ritual abuse and its wider context: Degradation, deception and disavowal Ritualistic abuse – A research review and analysis by Dr Elly Hanson. The report unpacks the nature of organised ritual abuse, its motives and dynamics, the harm it causes and the barriers survivors face in speaking out. It also looks at the discourse of disbelief and conspiracy fictions which have kept it hidden for so long.

Humans have the potential to treat one another with extreme cruelty and this report deals with behaviour of this worst kind. To identify and surface the nature of ritual abuse and the abuses surrounding it, Dr Hanson draws extensively on primary research – this then providing the basis for a set of recommendations that lay out a whole system approach necessary to respond rightfully to this most horrific of crimes.

For decades, disbelief, investigative challenges and complexity of this abuse have led to systemic failings in recognising and responding to these crimes. Survivors face extreme barriers to disclosure, often due to trauma, coercion and fear of not being believed. Taking disclosures seriously must go together with timely, professional investigation to prevent injustice. Policing responses must improve through trauma-informed investigations, intelligence-sharing and multi-agency safeguarding. 

The report is accompanied by an operational briefing which outlines practical actions to enhance police investigations, victim engagement and multi-agency collaboration. It addresses both the organised ritual abuse which is the focus of Dr Hanson’s report and abuse driven by beliefs in spirit possession or witchcraft. The guidance is both strategic and operational and is intended as the first in a series of resources on this subject.

NPCC Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation, Deputy Chief Constable Becky Riggs says: “I welcome the report published today, which provides an important opportunity for us all to widen the focus and increase our understanding of the complex nature of child sexual abuse and exploitation. 

“This kind of abhorrent offending does not exist in boxes where neat labels can be applied. It crosses geographical, demographic and age barriers. All children matter and we must acknowledge the pain, trauma and long lasting-lasting impact of abuse experienced by too many children and young people. 

“I am committed to working with partners and stakeholders across law enforcement, government and the third sector to ensure victim care, investigative strategy and policy decisions acknowledge and reflect the wide remit of abuse being inflicted. Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm. We owe it to them, and to those whose lives have already been affected to deliver the protection and justice they deserve.”

Key takeaways:

• Ritualistic elements are not a distraction from the core crimes of sexual and physical abuse; they are often key tools of coercion and silencing.
• Real and recognisable. These cases are not common, but neither are they vanishingly rare. They can be investigated and prosecuted with professionalism and care.
• Survivor testimony must be taken seriously. It is not valid to dismiss people’s disclosures because they describe extreme cruelty. Victim and survivor testimony may be fragmented and incomplete due to the nature of the crime and its impact. Training in dissociation and trauma-informed approaches is vital.
• Sensationalised conspiracy fictions, with no firm basis, are a distraction from the realities of this crime, and ironically have helped it stay hidden.

*Polly quoted by Salter (2013a)