History and Background to Child Death Investigation

Abstract

This chapter traces the history and provides a background of child death investigation. It begins by examining the nature and extent of child homicide, before outlining important landmarks in the field of child death investigation. Investigating child homicides and suspicious deaths necessitates a co-ordinated multi-agency response, and presents unique challenges for those tasked with this extremely complex, specialized, and sensitive crime area. There are now well established policies, procedures, and statutory guidance in place to provide a framework for professionals to operate within, with the police being the lead agency in child homicides and suspicious deaths. These include the Children Act 1989 and the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The current investigative environment has been influenced considerably by past failures in protecting the right to life of children and is still an area where controversy amongst different affected groups continues. The chapter then explains how child homicide investigation differs from other homicide investigations.