Police contact with vulnerable child – Cleveland Police, March 2023

In March 2023, Cleveland Police received a call from Social Services about a vulnerable child. The child had several warning markers, and officers were tasked with finding the child and checking on her welfare. A missing persons enquiry was opened. 

The officers found the child in the company of an older man, and spoke to her about her welfare. The child later reported that she had been raped by this man. 

Cleveland Police made a mandatory conduct referral to us about the two officers who spoke with the child. 

We decided to independently investigate the actions and decisions of the two officers in relation to the report of a missing child. In particular, their decision to downgrade the missing person report from high to medium risk; their decisions and actions when conducting the welfare check; the powers and actions available to the officers; and whether the officers acted in accordance with local and national policies, procedures and guidance. 

Our investigators interviewed the officers and obtained statements from police witnesses and members of the public. 

We found evidence that suggested that the child had walked away from the officers. An officer had also notified Cleveland Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People department about the incident.

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. 

We did not identify any organisational learning in this case.