Disapply 12-month limit for CSA police complaints
The Chair and Panel recommend that the National Police Chiefs' Council ensures that complaints relating to child sexual abuse are no longer 'disapplied' by police forces on the grounds that the incident involved took place more than 12 months before the complaint was submitted.
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that the NPCC had issued guidance to all forces on this matter (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThis recommendation is directed at the National Police Chiefs' Council which has responded separately to the Inquiry.
On 16 January 2019, Chief Constable Craig Guildford (National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Complaints and Misconduct) advised all Chief Officers that complaints relating to child sexual abuse should no longer be disapplied on the ground that it took place more than 12 months before the complaint was submitted. This interim measure was implemented with immediate effect. On 1 February 2020, the Independent Office of Police Conduct published statutory guidance on the police complaints system. The statutory guidance no longer includes a chapter on disapplication.