Essentially once you’ve given a witness statement in a police investigation, the police don’t always keep you updated unless you’re directly classed as a victim. But you are entitled to safeguarding information, particularly if your child could be at risk.
So I would:
1)Ask for the crime reference number. Basic information you are entitled to.
2)Request a named contact within the investigation team. If the officer in charge is not responding, then escalate through the police station’s safeguarding unit. You can also escalate to the detective sergeant.
Worth asking who the police force’s Victim & Witness Care Unit is. Most UK forces have one – sometimes called “Witness Care Unit” or “Victim & Witness Hub”).
If you still don’t get a response from all that then well within rights to make a formal complaint to the professional standards dept.
Even though social services closed your case, you can re-refer yourself at any time. If you feel your child’s safety could be compromised by contact or by him learning you have reported him/given a statement, you can call the local authority’s Children’s Services duty team.
Social workers have safeguarding thresholds and given this relates to offences affecting children, Children’s Services would certainly want to keep a watching brief if they were updated.
If police won’t update you but do share with social services, you can ask the social worker to liaise with the police on your behalf.
You are obviously not obliged to offer any contact to this man until he applies to court.
If he does apply for contact the CAFCASS team will be involved. They run safeguarding checks with police before the first hearing. If your ex is under investigation for offences against children, CAFCASS would flag this as a serious safeguarding concern and the court would likely restrict, suspend, or make contact supervised only (if at all).
Other steps she can take:
1)Clare’s Law. Apply for disclosure of info to see if this is something he has done before / for any information that may affect yours or child’s safety.
2)Sarah’s Law (child sex offender disclosure scheme). If he poses a risk to children, you can apply for disclosure. This is usually triggered where there’s suspicion of child sexual offences.
If you fear intimidation or harassment once he knows you’ve given evidence, your solicitor can help you apply for a non molestation order. It can be obtained quickly and without notice if needed.
Legally, you would be entitled to:
Special Measures in court if you end up having to testify — e.g., screens, video link, separate entrance.
To be kept informed of key decisions in the case under the Victims’ Code (although the code focuses on victims rather than witnesses, in child-related offences it can extend to protective parents).
Hope helpful, well done for protecting your kids x