Request 101004041955

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

Aim: to explore how a child is protected from future harm after a parental guardian is suspected of a child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offence in the UK.

NOTE: this is regarding children who are not thought to have been a direct victim of intra-familial child sexual abuse by a parent.

1) Which category would a parent accessing online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) be logged under within the children’s services data management system?

2) After receiving a police safeguarding referral in relation to a person that shares their primary residence with a child and has placed under investigation for a CSAM offence, how quickly would the non-suspect parental guardian be contacted by children’s services in the following circumstances?:

a) Suspect held on remand.

b) Suspect arrested and bailed to an alternative address.

c) Suspect bailed with conditions that limits contact with children under 18.

d) Suspect released under investigation without bail conditions.

3) Where a CSAM suspect has parental responsibility and an established shared custody arrangement for a child whose primary residence is elsewhere, how quickly after the police safeguarding referral is received would the primary parental guardian expect to be contacted by children’s services in the following circumstances?:

a) Suspect held on remand

b) Suspect bailed with conditions that limits contact with children under 18.

c) Suspect released under investigation without bail conditions.

4) Would children’s services routinely inform the following about the police suspecting a parent has committed a CSAM offence?:

a) The child’s school.

b) The child’s GP.

c) Any other agencies or organisations known to be engaged with the family.     

i) If yes, please give examples of who that may be.

5) Are there any support services in your area for children or their non-suspect parental guardian after a parent has been suspected of a CSAM offence?

a) If yes, please state who these are and which are tailored to support the child directly.

6) When the non-suspect parental guardian agrees with the children’s services recommendations for contact arrangements regarding the suspect parent, and is considered to be protective, does this mean that the case file is closed?

a) In the process of closing a case file does the final correspondence to the non-suspect parent specifically state how long the agreed contact arrangements should be kept in place and/or state the circumstances in which children’s services might proactively reengage with the family?

7) Do children’s services routinely inform the police once when they close a case file after a receiving a safeguarding due to a parent being suspected of accessing CSAM?

8) Would children’s services expect to be told by police of the following circumstances?

a) Suspect parent has bail conditions lifted however remains under investigation.

b) An investigation into suspected CSAM activity by a parent has concluded with no further police action required at this time.

c) The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges for the suspect parent.

d) Date of a suspect parents first court hearing.

e) Suspect parent found not guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

f) Suspect parent found guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

g) Offending parent breached any of their sentencing requirements.

h) Offending parent demonstrated an increase in risky behaviour without breaking the law, for example increased pornography use or alcohol consumption.

i) Offending parent completed their Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

j) Offending parent is so longer required to register as a sex offender.

9) Would children’s services directly contact the primary parental guardian to share the following updates from police in the following circumstances if the family has no open case file?:

a) Suspect parent has bail conditions lifted however remains under investigation.

b) An investigation into suspected CSAM activity by a parent has concluded with no further police action required at this time.

c) The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges for the suspect.

d) Date of a suspect parents first court hearing.

e) Suspect found not guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

f) Suspect found guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

g) Offending parent breached any of their sentencing requirements.

h) Offending parent demonstrated an increase in risky behaviour without breaking the law, for example increased pornography use or alcohol consumption.

i) Offending parent completed their Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

j) Offending parent is so longer required to register as a sex offender.

10 If the family has no open case file would any of the following circumstances trigger an automatic reassessment of the appropriate contact arrangements between a child and a parent?:

a) Suspect parent has bail conditions lifted however remains under investigation.

b) An investigation into suspected CSAM activity by a parent has concluded with no further police action required at this time.

c) Suspect parent found not guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

d) Suspect parent found guilty in final criminal court proceedings.

e) Offending parent breached any of their sentencing requirements.

f) Offending parent demonstrated an increase in risky behaviour without breaking the law, for example increased pornography use or alcohol consumption.

g) Offending parent completed their Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

h) Offending parent is so longer required to register as a sex offender.