Is it Ever too Late to Complain About Historical Abuse?

What is classified as Historical Abuse?

Historical abuse, often referred to as "non-recent abuse" includes a wide range of harmful actions done to a person. These actions can include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. The key characteristic of historical abuse is that it occurred at some point in the past, making it distinct from current or recent incidents.

Historical abuse can manifest in various ways, ranging from a single traumatic event to a series of repeated abusive acts that transpired over an extended period. It's crucial to recognize that the impact of such abuse can be profound and enduring, affecting survivors in both visible and hidden ways.

How to report non-recent abuse

Coming forward to report abuse from a long time ago is a brave thing to do.

People report historical abuse for different reasons. Some want to make sure the person who hurt them doesn't hurt others. Others report it to find closure and move on with their life.

If you decide to report it, then you will need to call 101 and explain what happened.  They will then refer you to a specialist team.

It's completely normal to feel nervous about reporting. You might worry about what will happen next. We're here to explain the process and support you through it.

Points to Keep in Mind When Reporting Historical Abuse

Location of the Offence

The location of the abuse determines which police force handles the case. If the abuse happened outside your current area of residence, your local police may take your initial account and forward it to the relevant force.

Status of the Perpetrator

If the person who abused you has passed away, then the investigation can’t proceed. If you're unsure whether the perpetrator is still alive, you can still report the abuse, and the police will investigate to check if they are still alive.

What can you do if You’ve Reported Abuse to the Police but no Further Action was Taken?

The Police will fully investigate your report, and this is often done by a specialist team of officers.  Ultimately it is down to the Crown Prosecution Service as to whether they want to bring a prosecution. They need to be sure there is enough evidence.  If they decline, you can appeal using the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme. If this is still unsuccessful you can apply to a magistrate’s court to bring a private prosecution.  This is not an easy process, and we strongly recommend you speak to our specialist team of abuse solicitors if you are considering this.

You may be able to seek compensation directly from the person who abused you or from other organisations who were involved.  Our team can advise you on the best ways to do this and support you throughout the process. Sometimes these cases can be dealt with on a No Win, No Fee basis.

Are There Time Limits to Bringing an Abuse Claim?

Courts do have times limits in place for bringing compensation claims. However, where the claim is for sexual abuse, the Court does have the ability to disapply these time limits. The Court has this ability has they understand there are many reasons why survivors don’t come forward straight away.

Please don’t let this discourage you from contacting us.  We have helped many survivors of historic sexual abuse and we can help you too.

What do you Need to Bring a Successful Abuse Claim?

In claims of this nature, especially where the abuse took place some time ago, the more evidence we can obtain the more likely the claim is to be successful. This will include any previous reports of the abuse, notes in medical records and any witness evidence.

Whatever type of abuse you have suffered and whenever it happened, our dedicated team of Sexual Assault Solicitors have years of experience helping people just like you. They know it takes courage to come forward and can be with you every step of the way to support you throughout the legal process.

Whatever type of abuse you have suffered and whenever it happened, our dedicated team of Abuse Claim Solicitors have years of experience helping people just like you. They know it takes courage to come forward and can be with you every step of the way to support you throughout the legal process.