IPCC calls for lessons to be learnt on grooming following murder of Breck Bednar

23 Nov 2015 12:29 PM

The IPCC has written to the relevant National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead officers to urge them to share best practice nationally on the handling of grooming reports. The message came as the IPCC published its investigation report into how Surrey Police handled a report from the mother of Breck Bednar, saying she was concerned her son was being groomed online. Two months later, Breck was murdered by Lewis Daynes.

The IPCC investigation found the Surrey Police call handler and their supervisor lacked knowledge of dealing with grooming concerns and that Lorin LaFave, Breck’s mother, had provided information which should have flagged the potential risk of Breck being groomed.

The IPCC found that a Police National Computer (PNC) check should have been completed and that Mrs LaFave was not provided with information about specialist agencies such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which provides a reporting service and advice to parents who suspect someone of behaving inappropriately towards their child online.

The IPCC has called on Surrey Police to provide further training to call handlers in recognising and responding to reports of grooming and radicalisation - including widening the training to more staff about how and when to make a PNC check. The IPCC has also recommended that Surrey call handlers are provided with details about specialist agencies such as CEOP for passing on to parents.

Surrey Police have responded positively to the recommendations. 
The IPCC has written to the NPCC lead for child sexual exploitation, Chief Constable Simon Bailey of Norfolk Police, and the lead for children and young people, Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney of Sussex Police.

IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor said:

“Parents are increasingly aware that child abusers or extremists can use the internet to target potential victims online. Where they have concerns, parents must be able to turn to the police, and expect those concerns to be taken seriously. For that to happen, police call handlers need to be properly trained to recognise the danger signs and to give the right support and information. Sadly, in the case of Breck and his family, the support they needed was not given.

“Lessons must be learned; that is why I have written to the NPCC to ask them to consider current national guidance and to alert forces across England and Wales to our recommendations so forces can satisfy themselves that they have the right training and procedures in place.”

The investigation found failings on behalf of the call handler that took Mrs LaFave’s call, and their supervisor. It concluded that the call was closed by people who had received child protection training and therefore should have known that further action was required. Had both parties not left the force, they would have had a case to answer for misconduct.