Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG76/1

Question

Recognition of child sexual abuse:- What approaches to practice enable children (both boys and girls) who have been sexually abused to begin to tell practitioners about their experiences earlier, and in a way that does not contaminate the reliability of subsequent court proceedings?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Research shows that many children and young people who are sexually abused do not tell anyone about their abuse. Among those who do, many delay telling someone for a long time, sometimes until adulthood. We found little research identifying the approaches or techniques that would make it more likely for a child being sexually abused to tell a practitioner about it. Although there is an evidence base on Achieving Best Evidence interviewing as part of a formal investigation, there is less evidence about approaches that can be used at an earlier stage. Studies are needed that would identify effective approaches to enable children to talk about sexual abuse, while ensuring that these early conversations do not contaminate evidence at a later stage in an investigation.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Child abuse and neglect

Number

NG76

Date issued

October 2017

Other details