Latest changes – major investigation and public protection

Updated contact number for Medaille Trust.

Change to section on 'Hostility' to include antisemitism.

Updated broken links to Home Office guidance on statutory injunctions to prevent gang-related violence and drug dealing (2016).

Updated broken link to Hydrant Programme Group on Knowledge Hub.

Extensive changes following consultation process.

Replaced broken link to the Byford report. 

Broken link to '43 police forces of England and Wales' updated.

Previous MOPI 2005 Code link replaced with link to Police information and records management Code of Practice (2023). 

Replaced link to 2005 MOPI Code of Practice with new link to the 2023 Police information and records management Code of Practice.

Changed 'Her Majesty's Passport Office' to 'His Majesty's Passport Office'.

Addition of link to NPCC Family Pack PDF

UKBA reference removed in Domestic abuse > Understanding risk and vulnerability > Risk identification and assessment > Victims from armed services, families and emergency service/public service personnel > 5th paragraph > last sentence

Updated link to Knife crime: a problem-solving guide to the HTML version

Changes to section on 'Perception-based recording' to reflect new Code of Practice for recording non-crime hate incidents.

Changes to reflect new Code of Practice for recording non-crime hate incidents.

Removed the word 'perceived' from the definition of servitude.

Updated broken links to other sections of the Hate crime APP, including Community engagement and tension, Intelligence, Supervision and oversight and Strategic leadership.

Links updated to latest versions of the following PDFs.

• Briefing note – For police first responders to a report of rape or sexual assault
• Annex A – Gathering evidence for rape and sexual offence investigations

Updated link to 'Honour-based abuse advice for first responders' PDF to the updated March 2023 version.

Link removed to UKMPB file 'Identification process – good practice: Procedural'.

Links and dates to the following documents updated to reflect the 2023 version:
1 - HM Government (2014) The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with forced marriage
2 - HM Government (2014) Multi-agency practice guidelines: Handling Cases of Forced Marriage  

References to MPB amended to UKMPU (UK Missing Persons Unit)

Added links to Voice of the child documents

Sentence added to 'The police role and responsibilities' and 'categories' sections. Paragraph added to 'legal expectations'. Minor changes made to first sentence in 'positive action' section. LSCB changed to MASA. FCO changed to FCDO. Reference removed from 'truanting' section

More reference documents added, removed or updated. Bullet point added to police actions in relation to support for families section. MPB references changed to UKMPU and links updated. Sentence added to medium and low risk missing person subsection of timescales for collecting samples. Legal references added to media strategy section. NPCC lead reference added to  family initiated media campaigns section. Sentence added to confidentiality section and interviews section. Paragraph added to prevention interviews section.

Contact details for UKMPU (formerly MPB) updated and a sentence added about when to consult mental health services added to end of 'minimum actions' section

General updates: reference to Philomena Protocol, references updated, removed or added, CRA updated, contact details updated (UKMPU, FCDO), police duty of care updated (section 'missing from hospital emergency departments'), SISII section removed.

Organisational names updated (for example, LSCB becomes MASA, IPCC becomes IOPC). References made to Philomena Protocol. Reference documents also added or replaced.

Added links to Voice of the child documents

The PCSC Act 2021 introduced new legislation for the management of sex offenders – APP updated accordingly.

Minor changes made (link to College Learn, new bullet point added to initial questions list, 'mental health' added to sentence in' gathering information and intelligence' section, reference to vulnerability-related risks guidelines and sentence added to 'assessing risk levels and taking action' section)

07/02/2023 Links added to Voice of the child documents in the section on Missing children

Updates to INTERPOL section following MOSOVO updates, including addition of link to the APP on Investigations > International.

Document title changed from 'Guidelines on the Investigation, Cautioning and Charging of Knife Crime Offences' to 'Guidelines on the Cautioning and Charging of Knife Crime Offences'. Link updated to the latest version of the document.

Edited 'Signs of a disturbance' section to include reference to the National Crime Agency's (NCA) Forensic Medical Advice Team, which runs the National Injuries Database.

Interim changes in light of the Miller v College of Policing CA case 2021, ahead of a new Home Office code of practice about the recording and retention of personal data relating to non-crime hate incidents.

Interim changes in light of the Miller v College of Policing CA case 2021, ahead of a new Home Office code of practice about the recording and retention of personal data relating to non-crime hate incidents.

Replaced broken link for the NPCC missing persons tasking and transfer request form, under 'Ownership and responsibility for cases'.

Added link to Home Office (2022) Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019, parts 3, 4 and 5.

Updated UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) email address.

New section added – Principles for telephone or video first response to domestic abuse

Missing Persons Bureau updated to UK Missing Persons Unit across all modules

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Review of all existing links to the 2011 ABE guidance and update the reference to the new 2022 guidance.

Updated section added - Victims with insecure or uncertain immigration status.

Amended out of date reference to risk guideline consultation and amend with link to guidelines.

SPO forms added.

Out of date information on Rape and sexual offences APP amended.

NPCC definition for prioritisation of online perpetrators who pose a risk of harm to children.

Updated link to THRIVE document from MLE to College learn.

Link to Knife crime - a problem solving guide added.

New link to MIRSAP page added to replace ACPO document.

Link to the Murder Manual replaced with link to the Major Crime Manual.

Wording in section on notifying the British transport police of suicidal missing persons amended..

Major Crime Investigation manual published.

Updated MIRSAP manual published.

Publication of County lines child criminal exploitation.

Replaced paragraph to reflect changes to legislation.

Updated link for Revenge Pronography Guidance inserted in several sections:
> Offences associated with domestic abuse > Revenge Pornography
> Technology and Social media
> Risk and vulnerability > Teenagers and young people (Link inserted)
> Stalking and harassment

Links to BWV guidance and BWV Essex trail 2015 amended after report of broken links.

Deletion of paragraph: Safeguarding Adults - A National Framework of Standards for good practice and outcomes in adult protection work.

Family liaison - ACPO (2008) manual removed and replaced with link to Working with Victims and Witnesses.

Family liaison - ACPO (2008) manual removed and replaced with link to Working with Victims and Witnesses.

Link replaced in further information box within Migrant children.

Within the Foreign and Commonwealth section, link added to International investigation.

Updated references to latest Code of Practice for Victims and also changed wording from
'...are entitled to an enhanced service...' to '...have rights to an enhanced service...' in Briefing note for adults at risk: initial response and safeguarding and Briefing note for adults at risk: advice for investigators

College of Policing Briefing note on sexting added - replaces ACPO 2013 document, plus updated link to MAPPA guidance

Added introduction. Change to the order of the documents. Added 'Making Safeguarding Personal: What might ‘good’ look like for the police' document

Error on Safelives link corrected, plus link added to Home Office Guidance

Name changed to Adults at risk. Three documents added and one flowchart added

Others' added to citation in Proposed prohibitions' section. Obtaining a notification order section added. HMPO watch list title put in bold and sentence 'To implement the restrictions, staff should submit a request to HMPO for information/flagging on a DPA section 29(3) form.' removed from this section.

'Other agencies' added and 'their local probatino service' removed from first sentence in 'Monitoring and enforcement of orders' section. 'and disrutive techniques' added to 'Alternative orders' title. @Hospital order and guardianship order' section removed.

'Standards of proof' heading changed to heading 4 type.

'Please Note that all SOPO RSHO & FTO will change to the new orders in March 2020 – legal check required to see if all SOPO change to SHPO and any SOPO that is indefinite beyond notification date then will be revoked' added to 'Transition' section.

Link added from foreign travel restriction section to HMPO watch list

Some parts of the text changed to headings to make it clearer. Link to national ViSOR standards removed from ViSOR sub section. MAPPA structure - added 'a qualifying offender' to 2nd sentence. Added 'Category 2' after MAPPA (1st sentence).

Care Programme Approach' added over CPA hoverbox (C/O by Jo C). MCHS changed to MHCS.

New reference added (Managing the risk of suicide section) - College of Policing (June 2019) Operational Advice Managing the risk of suicide for persons under investigation for online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Old reference removed - NPCC 2016 Interim Guidance on Suicide Prevention Risk Management – Perpetrators of Child Sexual Exploitation and Indecent Images of Children (IIOC)

Screen reader support enabled.

Wording of heading changed.

Update to reference material (toolkit for officers combating anti roma and traveller community hate crimes).

Reference to local CPS removed.

Updated advice document added for police responders and call handlers.

Practitioner resources added.

Practitioner resources added included call for practice summary.

Update/add reference to CoP (2020) Revenge Porn document.

Update/add reference to CoP (2020) Revenge Porn document.

Update/add reference to CoP (2020) Revenge Porn document.

CPS advice document added.

Broken link fixed - http://library.college.police.uk/docs/cps/Early_special_measures_discussions_between_the_police_and_the_CPS.pdf

College ‘Principles for the management of serial and potentially dangerous perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking’ document added.

Updated SIO advice published.

Removed reference to POLKA.

New Child Rescue Alert guidance added.

New Child Rescue Alert guidance added.

Removal of threshold table and addition of link to SOA 2003 Schedule 3 and 5.

New Child Rescue Alert guidance added.

New Child Rescue Alert guidance added.

New Child Rescue Alert guidance added.

Additional amends in the First Respone and the National Referral Mechanism to reflect the change in process and remove obsolete links to reference material.

New advice on investigating stalking or harrassment for supervisors and managers.

Updated content for the National Referral Mechanism.

Broken link to common law police disclosure scheme.

Updated content for MAPPA and Home Visits.

Replace following reference materials with most up to date ones: Deactivated weapons; Witness issues; firearm related crime scenes; victims of shootings..

Amended content.

Amended to reflect Homicide journals and major crime publications with additional contact details added.

Link to HOCR updated.

SPO notification requirement form replaced so that a force badge can be inserted.

Revised content.

Stalking Protection Order Statutory Guidance added.

Revised content.

Revised content.

Updated Stalking Protection Order notification requirement form.

Removal of National Document Fraud Unit contact details.

Update versions of the SPO briefing note, presentation and summons form published.

New Stalking Protection Orders national forms and advice added.

New advice on investigating stalking or harrassment.

Broken link for minimum reporting details amended.

New advice on safeguarding children through the use of Child Abduction Warning Notices.

New advice on safeguarding children through the use of Child Abduction Warning Notices.

New advice on safeguarding children through the use of Child Abduction Warning Notices.

Updated version of Parental Child Abduction guidance.

Updated version of Parental Child Aduction guidance.

Paragraph added to technology and social media in relation to replacement phone.

Links to CPS policy and guidance in relation to abuse against older people.

Working together link updated to 2018 version.

Working together link updated to 2018 version.

CPS links updated.

June 2019 version of Management of suicide operational advice added.

June 2019 version of Management of suicide operational advice added.

Revised poster and Initial response document added address error printed in previous version.

New advice note – intial response to incidents of stalking and harassment – including briefing powerpoint and posters.

Updated Interpol notices link to European investigation with link to International investigations.

Change name of module to Sex work and prostitution, plus updated link to new 2019 guidance on policing sex work and prostitution.

Updated reference to DPA 2018.

Updated link to International APP.

Working together link updated to 2018 version.

Updated link to HMIC 2013 Mistakes were made.

Updated links to PACE Codes.

Include a link to Information sharing protocol.

Update to include Adult Social Care as one of Marac's core agencies.

Additional support agency added - Medaille Trust.

Publication of new briefing advice for first responders.

Change to wording of ownership and transfer.

Amended wording around cautions.

Updated POLKA link to Parental Child Abduction guidance.

Addition of link to Victim and Witnesses Interview Strategies.

Addition of link to Victim and Witnesses Interview Strategies.

Addition of link to Victim and Witnesses Interview Strategies.

New content.

Leglisation references amended.

Change in wording around child at risk to mirror legislation and avoid confusion.

Change in definition of CSE to match the government definition.

Additional text added to set context for link to NPCC strategy document on forced marriage, honour based abuse, and female genital mutilation.

Link added to November 2016 issue of the Homicide Journal.

Amended wording to prevention interviews.

Reference to new SIO advice.

Updated link provided - removal of Rainbow link, replaced with GALOP.

New APP.

Updated reference to legislation.

Removal of link to obsolete meeting minutes.

Vetting level specified at NPPV3 level for all interpreters (excluding telephone interpreting).

May 2016 issue of Homicide Journal added.

Changes to the introduction to address issues relating to genital cosmetic surgery.

Addition of links to NABIS reference material.

Addition of link to ISA between NPCC, NOMS and CRCs.

Addition of link to gov.uk page on resources for armed forces domestic abuse.

Addition of landing page signposting to current reference material.

Updates to content and links to reference materials.

Update to reflect legislative change.

Addition of link to letter explaining revised definition of "absent".

Various updates.

Various updates.

Various updates.

Various updates.

(Victims and witnesses) Link added to College of Policing (2015) Deployment of family liaison officers in child sexual exploitation or abuse cases - also added to Child sexual abuse.

Text reworded, combined guidance now available as one document (inluding links to reference docs) from Op Hydrant POLKA community.

Addition of link to November 2015 Homicide Journal.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Update a link to 2015 Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Changes to reflect the coming into force of two new provisions brought in by the Serious Crime Act 2015.

Link to HM Government (2008) Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers replaced with HM Government (2015) Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.

Link to HM Government (2008) Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers replaced with HM Government (2015) Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers Link to CPS (2015)

Domestic abuse charging advice sheet added

Link to HM Government (2008) Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers replaced with HM Government (2015) Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.


Link to CPS (2015) Domestic abuse charging advice sheet added.

Link to HM Government (2008) Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers replaced with HM Government (2015) Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.


Link to CPS (2015) Domestic abuse charging advice sheet added.

Link to HM Government (2008) Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers replaced with HM Government (2015) Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.


Link to CPS (2015) Domestic abuse charging advice sheet added.

Wording change to reflect new Operation Hydrant community on POLKA.

Update link to 2014 "National Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel Guidelines" to 2015 version.

Addition of a link to The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2015.

Addition of link to "Children Act 1989: transition to adulthood for care leavers".

Updates to Introduction, Definitions, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Reporting and first contact and National referral mechanism.

Updates to Introduction, Definitions, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Reporting and first contact and National referral mechanism.

Updates to Introduction, Definitions, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Reporting and first contact and National referral mechanism.

Updates to Introduction, Definitions, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Reporting and first contact and National referral mechanism.

Updates to Introduction, Definitions, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Reporting and first contact and National referral mechanism.

1. Removal of link to Home Office (2014) Review of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking (further info box at top of page)
2. Addition of links to referral forms

References to two further charities/NGOs added.

Addition of link to Offender Management Briefing Note.

Addition of link to NCA CEOP Victim Identification Guidance.

Addition of links to Home Office documents.

Link to the May 2010 edition of the Journal of Homicide and Major Investigation added.

Updates in respect of the provisions of the Serious Crime Act 2015, and update to section on cosmetic surgery in the introduction as it was felt to be insufficient and potentially misleading.

Addition of link to Media Briefing Note.

Addition of link to Critical incident management APP.

Remove links to toolkits.

Addition of links to
•Police investigators’ tool kit for addressing consent and associated myths in rape cases.
•Tool kit for police supervisors and managers: Addressing consent and associated myths in rape investigations and prosecutions.

Link to HM Government (2013) Working Together to Safeguard Children changed to HM Government (2015) Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Addition of a holding page.

Minor content changes.

Addition of new content on FGM incorporating feedback from consultation.

Addition of information on Operation Hydrant.

Addition of further information links to holding page.

Addition of further information links to holding page.

Addition of a sub-page linking to back editions of Homicide Journal.

Addition of a link National Policing Lead Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group minutes, letters and updates.

Amendment of information on compensation.

Updating references to Home Office Guide on Firearms Licensing Law to reflect revised date.

Addition of link to CPS (2014) Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media

Addition of links to ACPO CPAI Lead’s Position on Young People Who Post Self-Taken Indecent Images and CPS (2014) Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media.

Addition of new information on hotel notices.

Addition of link to ACPO (2013) Practitioners Guidance on Child Rescue Alert.

Addition of consultation on female genital mutilation draft.

Addition of new reference material link reflecting legislative changes.

Renamed "Investigating child deaths" to "Unexpected death of a child".

Addition of holding page.

Changing "sudden unexpected deaths in childhood" to "investigating child deaths".

Changing "sudden unexpected deaths in childhood" to "investigating child deaths".

Changing "sudden unexpected deaths in childhood" to "investigating child deaths".

Changing "sudden unexpected deaths in childhood" to "investigating child deaths".

Changing "sudden unexpected deaths in childhood" to "investigating child deaths".

Addition of holding page.

Addition of holding page.

Addition of holding page.

Addition of new area of content.

Addition of holding pages for Major investigation and public protection > Knife crime, pointing to current live content.

Addition of holding pages for Major investigation and public protection > Gangs and youth violence, pointing to current live content.

Addition of holding pages for Major investigation and public protection > Rape and sexual offences, pointing to current live content.

Addition of holding pages for Major investigation and public protection > Homicide and Major investigation and public protection > Managing sexual offenders and violent offenders, pointing to current live content.

Addition of a holding page for Major investigation and public protection > Stalking and harassment, pointing to current live content.

Link to ACPO guidance added.

Links to OCC documents added; word "honeypot" deleted.

Addition of Child sexual exploitation module to Major investigation and public protection.