Historical Abuse Allegations

Organisational responses to allegations by an adult of abuse experienced as a child must be of as high a standard as a response to current abuse.

Full details should be submitted to the Historic Child Protection Investigation Team (HCPIT) of Hertfordshire Police using the attached Historical Child Protection Referral Form.

This referral form will also enable professionals in both the Police and Children’s Services to identify and respond to current safeguarding concerns, thus protecting children who are currently at risk of harm.

The term “Historic” or “Non recent” abuse is frequently used to describe offences which occurred many years previously. The ‘Historic Child Protection Investigation Team’ (HCPIT) within the ‘Joint Child Protection Investigation Team’ (JCPIT) will investigate those cases :

1. Where an adult over the age of 18 years was sexually abused as a child under 16 years;
   
   AND
   
   The offender was a member of the child’s family or was a professional working with children;
2. Where an adult over the age of 18 years was “seriously” physically abused as a child under 16 years;
   
   AND
   
   The offender was a member of the child’s family or was a professional working with children;
3. Where an adult was sexually abused as a child under the age of 13 years by another child.

If the abuse being reported does not fit the offence/offender criteria for the HCPIT the referral will be signposted to the correct Police department and dealt with accordingly.

If the information received suggests any child is at immediate risk of harm please dial 101 for advice