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Crimes against children are some of the most serious and demanding investigations that the police and their partner agencies can be involved with. It is an extremely specialized crime area, constantly evolving with updated guidance, revised or new legislation, and improved working practices. This book offers an up-to-date practical approach to managing the investigation of child death, setting the protocols and procedures relating to these deaths, from sudden and unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) to suspicious cases and homicide.
This new edition of Effective Investigation of Child Homicide and Suspicious Deaths brings together the key legislation, guidance, policies, and procedures to create an indispensable resource for those tasked with this challenging but essential work. Drawing on his own extensive experiences, the author outlines the relevant procedures related to inquests and the criminal and family courts, summarising the specific offences relating to child deaths such as infanticide, familial homicide, procuring an abortion, and child destruction. The role of expert medical evidence is explained, as are the procedures relating to forensic post-mortems and forensic samples and tests, with contributions from key medical professionals framing the complex and technical within a more practical setting. This new edition now also offers valuable psychological insight into the ways in which personality types, offending behaviours, and motivation - including the relationship between the possible offence and offender - can inform professionals' understanding and approach. A reminder of the nuances of child death investigations is present in the striking but sensitive inclusion of personal accounts from the families of victims, insight from child bereavement support organisations, and child death reviews.
Effective Investigation of Child Homicide and Suspicious Deaths forms part of the Blackstone's Practical Policing Series. The series consists of practical guides containing clear and detailed explanations of the relevant legislation, police procedure and practice, accompanied by case studies, illustrative diagrams, and useful checklists.
