Investigation into the actions and decisions made by the police following a report of sexual offences – Merseyside Police, June 2020

Merseyside Police received a report that a man had committed sexual offences against a 13-year-old child (Child A). The man was arrested and interviewed by the police. He was released under investigation without bail conditions.  

The man contacted the child during the police investigation. He also committed a sexual offence with another child (Child B). 

The man was arrested by another force at the same time in relation to sexual and kidnap offences against a six-year-old child (Child C). He was remanded in custody. Child B was identified following that incident and a further investigation began. 

The man was charged with sexual offences against Child A and Child C. He was sentenced for offences relating to both force areas. The judge was publicly critical of the time taken by the force to investigate the offences and bring charges against the man. 

We received a complaint about Merseyside Police’s investigation into the man in 2023. We decided to independently investigate the actions and decisions of the police following a report of sexual offences against a child. 

We investigated the actions and decisions of the investigating officer, the supervisory oversight of the investigation, the safeguarding of the children, and the risk management of the offender throughout the investigation. 

We also examined the systems and processes in place at the time of the incident (including workload of individuals and teams) and what evidence there was that the assaults on Child B and Child C could have been prevented. 

We looked at whether the police acted in accordance with local and national policies and procedures, legislation and training.

Our investigators interviewed the officer in charge and numerous other police witnesses connected to the investigation. All officers involved were dealt with as witnesses.  

We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. 

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. 

In this case, the force has made significant organisational changes to the rape and serious sexual offences unit. We shared our investigation report with Merseyside Police so additional learning and good practice could be shared.