Lincolnshire Police was first force to introduce role to support families of suspected paedophiles

A pioneering police officer has helped more than 100 families deal with the aftermath of a loved one being arrested in connection with online child sexual abuse.

For the last two years, PC Tom Scott has been the Indirect Victim Support Officer within Lincolnshire Police’s Paedophile OnLine Investigation Unit (POLIT) where he has done his best to support partners and children deal with the consequences of the arrest and investigation.

Lincolnshire Police is the first in the country to introduce this role - which has been praised in an academic report by Anglian Ruskin University for the transformative impact it has had on the ‘hidden victims’ of the investigation.

Previously, the only ‘aide’ that investigating officers could leave with shocked families in the immediate aftermath of the arrest was a leaflet.

But now PC Scott, who is a veteran of 15 years service, is there to listen, inform and support the devastated families through the investigation - which can last two years. One family member is quoted in the report stating that he had helped them ‘through the wilderness’.

He said: “I am always trying to make things better after they have had the bad news and I try to make things more manageable.

“It is a challenge, there are lots of tears and sometimes anger. I know they are not angry at me, they just need to vent.

“They do need to get it out and understand what is going on, especially if they have children. And if they start to deteriorate with their mental or physical health then the child is going to suffer.”

PC Scott said it was daunting at first to take on the pioneering role as there was little available to help but he has been able to create something that is helping people in their darkest hours.

He not only provides a listening ear but also advises the families through the process, whether it is via face-to-face meetings, telephone calls or messages.

PC Scott said: “It is something we can’t change or take away but they do not need to be left in the dark. A huge event in their lives has just happened - one of the biggest things they are ever going to go through - and I need to help them through that.

“It is about giving people that person they can ring to ask if what they have read is true or what is going to happen.

“After 15 years of experience in policing, a lot of the questions I know the answers to or can easily find out.”

And having that person to turn to is vital as many families do not wish to confide in others due to the nature of the investigation.

He said: “If there are children in the family then they (the family) need to be told quite a lot. What the allegation is and what we suspect them of. We don’t go into details of the images but explain the different categories. We need to find out how many images there are and how bad they are as those two things dictate what happens in the future.

“Some people are in total denial and feel it’s a stitch up or they have been hacked. Others go the other way and say ‘I’m off, I don’t want to speak to that person ever again’ or allow them back into the house.

“Each reaction is very different but as long as you are making a decision for you and your family that is not putting your children at risk I will support you through it.”

PC Scott, who is able to highlight what other organisations are able to help and is able to replace the leaflet with a discreet email or qr code with information they need, said it was ‘emotional’ reading the Anglian Ruskin report.

He said that the job was incredibly rewarding.

PC Scott said: “Hopefully it is a positive role for the families and when I think back on 15 years of policing, people don’t say thank you often but now it is a regular thing. “

The impact of this role has been highlighted in a new report by Anglian Ruskin’s international Policing and Public Protection Institute, led by Dr Theresa Redmond, and evidence has shown the significant wellbeing impact on both family members and police officers.

Dr Redmond, Associate Professor at the university, said: “We know that instances of online child sexual abuse are rising exponentially, and whilst we rightly focus on safeguarding the children who have been harmed and pursuing those responsible, to date, there have been countless families who have become ‘hidden victims’, and have been left to deal with the trauma of what has happened to them, completely alone.

“Our findings into the IVSO role come as no surprise – the impact has been transformative, not only on the lives of the families being supported, but also on the police officers and staff who have to deal with the aftermath of their critical work, day in, day out.

“I’m very proud that the work of our combined team is being shared across the policing sector and I hope our evidence will encourage and inspire more forces to invest in this critical role.”