Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

made available. The criminal aspects of the case will, of course, be
dealt with by the police.
3.3 Abuse by Organised Networks or Multiple Abusers
3.3.1 Most sexual abusers are men who act in isolation, secretly
‘grooming’ their victims over a period of time.
3.3.2 However, sometimes abusers act together with varying degrees of
organisation, from a group of men/or women within an extended
family network to sophisticated national or international paedophile
rings, the principle objective of which is the sexual abuse of children.
3.3.3 It is particularly important when organised abuse is suspected that
there is a full and early exchange of information between agencies,
restricted to as few people as possible. The Head of Social Work
and the Chief Constable should be informed immediately and they
will reach agreement on who should have overall responsibility for
the co-ordination of the investigation. This person should co-ordinate
the activities of staff and relate to the appropriate directors of all
relevant authorities.
3.4 Children as Abusers
3.4.1 When physical or sexual assault is perpetrated by one child upon
another, consideration should be given as to whether or not these
Procedures should be applied in respect of both children.
3.4.2 This will depend on a number of factors:- the nature and severity of
the abuse; the nature of the relationship between ‘victim’ and
‘abuser’; the difference in age between the two; whether any degree
of force or coercion is used; whether it is a ‘one-off’ incident, or
persistent over time; the appropriateness of response by the parents;
whether the abusive behaviour is age-appropriate, e.g. is it sexual
exploration that might normally be expected between children of the
same age; any known history in either child’s family that should
arouse increased concern.
3.4.3 Where the ‘abuser’ is over the age of legal responsibility (i.e. eight
years) the Police will wish to establish whether an offence has been
committed. If an independent criminal investigation is conducted, it is
particularly important that the Social Work Department is kept
informed through the Team Leader (Children and Families) so that
the needs of the child can be addressed. The alleged abuser would
be reported by the Police to the Children’s Reporter. In the case of
serious sexual offences he or she would also be reported to the
Procurator Fiscal.
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