Terms of reference: super-complaint about the length of police investigations into sexual offences
Updated 28 May 2026
Applies to England and Northern Ireland
漏 Crown copyright 2026
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On 15 December 2025,听the Centre for Women鈥檚 Justice听submitted听a super-complaint about听what it describes as听鈥渆xcessively lengthy police investigations鈥澨齣nto sexual offences听that are听causing significant harm to the public.听It听made this super-complaint in collaboration with听,听听补苍诲听. The feature of policing under consideration is specifically investigations into听sexual offences听that听exceed three years by investigation length.听听
In January 2026,听, the听听and the听听(the investigative bodies) assessed this super-complaint and decided it was eligible for investigation.听HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue听Services听will lead听the听joint investigation听and response.听听
Although the听joint听investigation will听focus on听investigations into sexual offences that exceed three years, it will also听consider听investigations听with shorter durations听where听there听are听excessive delays.听For the purpose of this investigation, the investigative bodies will consider the length of time taken to investigate sexual offences from when the crime was reported, to the conclusion of the police investigation. The police reach this conclusion when they charge a suspect and/or close the active investigation phase of the case.
Where excessively lengthy or听delays听to听sexual offence investigations are听identified, the investigative bodies will consider whether these delays are, or appear to be, causing significant public harm. The investigative bodies will then consider what actions and recommendations, if any, are听required听to address identified harm.听听
The investigative bodies will consider the听extent听of听excessive delays听in听police investigations into sexual offences, including听how this affects听survivors听补苍诲听public safety.
They will also consider the causes of any delays to these investigations,听considering,听but not limited to,听the factors referred to by the Centre for Women鈥檚 Justice in its super-complaint:听听
- policing prioritisation decisions听
- policing听resourcing and staffing issues听
- policing听supervision,听leadership听and management听
- co-operation between the police and听听
- changes to pre-charge听听and release under investigation听听
And they will consider how data on the timeliness of investigations is reported听both听within听police听forces and听externally听to the听public, to support transparency,听accountability听and effective management of long-running investigation.
The police super-complaints system is limited to considering features of policing.听We may听examine听how听other organisations听work with the police听补苍诲听can make recommendations to any organisation to further improvements in policing.