Organised and Complex Abuse

Organised and complex abuse is when more than one person is involved in abusing a child or group of children, often working together or through networks, and sometimes using positions of trust, organisations, or systems to access and exploit children.

It can occur in any setting, including families, communities, or institutions such as schools, residential care, faith groups or sports organisations.

Organised and complex abuse often involves networks or groups of perpetrators, though organisation can range from loose associations to more structured activity and can involve both adults and, in some cases, other children/young people as perpetrator.

Organised and complex abuse may include:

Multiple victims and/or multiple perpetrators
Use of positions of trust or authority
Production/distribution of abusive images or exploitation
Online and offline offending

See the regional multi-agency child protection procedures for more information

Local expanded definition

During 2026, as a result of learning from national and local case reviews, the definition of organised and complex abuse within local procedure was widened to includes the following:

Where the effectiveness of a partnership response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of child victims of exploitation and abuse, their families and/or the wider community
The reported circumstances may attract significant public or media interest
Where the response may require specialist or additional resources that may involve an enhanced level of co-ordination and direction
Where the number of perpetrators and/or child victims may require a significant response by more than one partner organisation
The information indicates a significant level of threat, harm and risk posed to or by children to third parties (high level of threat, harm and risk posed). This could be for example where it is suspected that serious criminal acts have occurred, are threatened, are about to occur, or involve acts of preparation.