Police Report ICPC

[Panny]

I am looking for guidance on what is isn't/ acceptable for the police to reveal in their report for the ICPC.

I had been led to believe it would be any information they hold relating to my family that is relevant to my child's case.

I was shocked when I arrived at the conference and they read out detailed descriptions of crimes I committed when I was 18 and 19- years before my child was even conceived and nearly 20 years ago. These are my only offenses, are long since spent and were relatively minor, not resulting in a prison sentence and definitely did not relate in any way to harming children.

Is this allowed and, if so, can anyone direct me to the legislation that states what the police are allowed to reveal in their report?

Another thing that didn't seem right to me and I had definitely not been told would happen was that they had investigated the person I had brought along to the conference as a support person (my mum). Luckily she doesn't have a criminal record so they just said they had investigated her and found nothing to report. Are they supposed to investigate and report upon people brought along to the conference for support?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Panny,

Welcome to the parents' board and thank you for your post.

You would like to know what information the police are able to share in an initial child protection conference. You say that details of crimes you had committed when you were a teenager were shared, which you do not think were relevant. You would like to know if the police are also able to conduct police check on those who attend a conference in support of a parent.

The statutory guidance for agencies involved in safeguarding children is known as 'Working Together to Safeguard Children.' You can find this here.

In this guidance, on page 66, it states: 'The police will hold important information about children who may be suffering, or
likely to suffer, significant harm, as well as those who cause such harm. They should
always share this information with other organisations and agencies where this is
necessary to protect children.'

You may also find it helpful to look at the 'information sharing' section page 18, which outlines how practitioners should share information within the law when it concerns the safeguarding of children.

If you do not think the information shared by the police was relevant, I would advise that you contact the police officer who was present in order to ask how the decision was made regarding which information was to be shared. Normally, police attending child protection conferences may report on the records of parents, and so you may want to ask how it was decided that your mother was also a relevant and significant party.

You may find it helpful to seek further advice and guidance from Unlock on 01634 247350 or the Information Commissioner's Officer on 0303 123 1113.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[Panny]

Thank you for your response and information, it is very helpful.

[Panny]

Sorry, I have just one more question - is it reasonable to assume I should have been told that the police would reveal my convictions at the ICPC? I have PTSD in relation to one of them and to have details of it read out unexpectedly to a room full of strangers was very distressing. I find it hard to believe social services had no duty to warn me.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Panny

Thanks for the question.

Your request may not have been unreasonable. When you were invited to the conference, and at the time of your discussion with the chair of the conference, it may not have been unreasonable for you (if you were able to) to ask the chair what was likely to be discussed by any or all of the professionals present, stating your concerns.

Information (gathering and) sharing is a part of the ‘role/process’ of the conference (see Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, page 18 onwards) and from what you say about having post traumatic stress disorder, a professional giving you forewarning may have been helpful. Perhaps you should ask your local authority to make reasonable adjustments for you, pointing out how you might be (or are affected) at meetings or at conferences.

Best wishes
Suzie

[Marky2019]

I'd like to ask is it legal for the police officer to read out convictions in front of teachers and other family members besides the mother and father in child protection meetings...as far as I'm aware that is privilege information and against data protection as those family members are not under such guidelines as the professionals...

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Marky2019

Welcome to the parents ‘discussion forum and thank you for posting. My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group.
I see from your post that you are concerned that there has been a breach of data protection because the police read out/disclosed previous convictions in the hearing of third parties whom you believe are not entitled to receive that information.

Certain convictions even, if spent, can be disclosed if there a possibility of risk to a child. The police would not normally disclose information about a person’s conviction except to the individual in question, under a court order or to children’s services in child protection investigations. A social worker may inform a parent of a person’s background if enquiries from the police give cause for concern about a child being at risk of harm. A person may not, (as you were), be aware of the conviction/background.
In your case the disclosure of previous conviction was made by the police which in child protection situations they can do if they consider there is a risk to child.
If the family members present at the meeting are looking after a child about whom children’s services have safeguarding concerns it may be important for them to know the history to help them to understand the risk and how to keep that child safe. You do not say in your post how the family member(s) were involved in the child protection meeting.

If your partner has concerns about the disclosures as a breach of data protection, then a complaint could be made to the police and or the Information commissioner. The is the telephone number for the information commissioner 0303 123 1113.

You may find it helpful to contact Unlock who can advise more about convictions and disclosure.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie