At a fact-finding hearing relating to the death and possible sexual assault of a child, the court highlighted difficulties with the approach to police disclosure outlined in the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model and made detailed suggestions for new procedural guidelines, subject to formal review by the President of the Family Division.
BURDEN OF PROOF CHILDREN CIVIL EVIDENCE CRIMINAL EVIDENCE DEATH DISCLOSURE FORENSIC EVIDENCE GUIDELINES POLICE SEXUAL ASSAULT
The court expressed concerns about the professional response to the death of a 13-month-old child who had died suddenly and in unexplained circumstances whilst in her parents’ care. In particular, it criticised the police failure to undertake any real investigation until nine months after the child’s death and the local authority’s failure to take legal advice and start proceedings for a similar period. Those failures affected the court’s ability to make findings of fact about the cause of the death during care proceedings.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BABIES CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CORONERS CORONERS’ POWERS AND DUTIES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DEATH FAMILY LAW LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ POWERS AND DUTIES LOCAL GOVERNMENT NON-ACCIDENTAL INJURY POLICE
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