Police investigation

[Stitch79]

My son is 16 and attends college. 2 weeks ago I had a phone call to say my son has been sent home for his and others safety as there has been report made to police and childrens services and he is now under investigation. He doesnt know what he suppose to have done, neither do I. I cant find out anything about what is happening. Noone has been in touch. I spoke to the police last week and they couldn't tell me anything now they are not answering my messages as I am wanting to know when we are going to found out what supposed to have happened. My son due back to college next week and he wont be allowed back till this is sorted. Im so worried as I know my son outside the house wouldn't hurt or upset anyone. He loves to please people, he was top pupil in school, anyone who comes in contact with him love him as he is so caring. I dont know what I can do as I cant sit and ignore it and waiting for police to turn up.

[Winter25]

Hi Stitch79,

I am so sorry you and your son are going through this. The silence from the police and Children’s Services is often the most agonizing part of an investigation, and being left in the dark while your son’s education is hanging in the balance is completely unacceptable. It is a terrifying position to be in, especially when you know your son is a caring, gentle person, but you have to understand that the system right now is looking at a "report," not at his character.

The first thing you need to do is stop waiting for the police to call you back and take control of the communication. Because your son is 16, he is still legally a child, and the police have a specific duty of care toward him. If the officer in charge is ignoring your messages, you should call 101, give them the reference number, and ask to speak to the Sergeant or the Inspector on duty for that department. You need to be calm but very firm; tell them that your son is 16, his education is being severely disrupted, and you need a timeline for when he will be interviewed or when a decision will be made. They often stay quiet until they are ready for an "interview under caution" to avoid what they call "contaminating evidence," but they cannot leave a minor in limbo forever.

Second, you must get a criminal solicitor involved immediately. Do not wait for the police to turn up at your door. A 16-year-old is entitled to legal aid for a criminal investigation, and a solicitor can do what you can't: they can call the police and demand "disclosure." This means the police have to tell the solicitor what the allegations actually are so they can prepare a defense. Having a solicitor now will also show the college that you are taking this seriously and dealing with it professionally.

Regarding the college, they have a legal duty to follow their safeguarding policies, which is why they sent him home. However, they cannot just bar him from his education indefinitely without a formal process. You should email the college’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) today. Ask them exactly what the process is for his return and what "risk assessment" they are carrying out. If the police haven't even interviewed him yet, there is no "finding of fact," and the college needs to be clear about why they are still excluding him.

Finally, contact the Children's Services duty team yourself. Tell them you are aware a report was made and ask what their "threshold" decision is. Sometimes the police and social services don't talk to each other effectively, and you might find that one department has already decided to take no action while the other is still dragging its feet. You are his best advocate right now. Get a solicitor, escalate the call to the police Sergeant, and start a paper trail with the college.

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For full transparency, I am not an official adviser. I am a parent with lived experience of the family court and safeguarding systems, offering strategic guidance. Always consult with a solicitor regarding criminal investigations and education law.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

My son is 16 and attends college. 2 weeks ago I had a phone call to say my son has been sent home for his and others safety as there has been report made to police and childrens services and he is now under investigation. He doesnt know what he suppose to have done, neither do I. I cant find out anything about what is happening. Noone has been in touch. I spoke to the police last week and they couldn't tell me anything now they are not answering my messages as I am wanting to know when we are going to found out what supposed to have happened. My son due back to college next week and he wont be allowed back till this is sorted. Im so worried as I know my son outside the house wouldn't hurt or upset anyone. He loves to please people, he was top pupil in school, anyone who comes in contact with him love him as he is so caring. I dont know what I can do as I cant sit and ignore it and waiting for police to turn up.

Dear Stitch79,

Thanks for your post. I am Suzie, an online adviser for Family Rights Group replying to you today.
I am sorry to hear about your son being under investigation and can imagine the uncertainty and stress this must be causing him and other family members.

You explain that you received a phone call to alert you to the current situation and that to inform that your son had been sent home for his own safety and that of others. You should contact the designated safeguarding lead for the college and ask them to give you the crime reference number that would have been given when a report to police was made. This reference number will help you follow with police by calling 101.

You could also pre-emptively contact children’s services multi-agency safeguarding hub. (MASH) to find out what you can at this stage about their involvement and what support can be offered to your son. The contact details will be on your local authority’s website under children and families.

Your son is entitled to legal aid to cover the cost of a solicitor. The Law Society have a database that you can use to search for a suitable firm in your area. You can link to it here.

Just for Kids Lawoffer support to young people at risk of criminal justice system involvement in the Greater London area. You can link to their website here.

You should also be aware of local youth offending teams and the support they can offer to your son if there is continuing police involvement as the investigation of the allegations progresses. You can read more about this service here.

Your son may benefit from talking over how he is feeling or reading online resources. The Mix are a support organisation for under-25s and can help on a range of issues. You can link to their website here.

I hope that this information is useful to you. Details of the different ways you can contact us are shown below.

You can call our free, confidential adviceline on 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm) to speak in person with an adviser. We also have a webchat which is currently open on Monday and Thursday afternoons, and an advice enquiry form.

Best wishes,
Suzie