Supporting child protection
and abuse investigation
About the
Hydrant Programme
The Hydrant Programme is a national policing programme supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Child Protection and Abuse Investigation Working Group. Originally established in 2014 to coordinate the response to non-recent child sexual abuse, but now supporting forces across all child protection and abuse investigation issues.
Hydrant develops policy and strategy on behalf of the NPCC, develops and delivers best practice advice including a learning, review and improvement function, provides a strategic analysis capability and partnership engagement with key stakeholders and partners.
What we offer
A Peer Review, Peer Support, CPD and Debrief function working across all elements of child abuse and child protection, which forces can access at no cost.
A Partnership Hub which supports key stakeholders and organisations with operational child protection and safeguarding issues.
An Analysis and Research Team who work in collaboration with the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme and the National Crime Agency to enhance understanding of the prevalence of child sexual abuse and exploitation and the risk and harm it presents. The aim of this is to address identified gaps in policing’s national capability highlighted by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and others.
A Communications Team with the ability to coordinate issues of national operational criticality within the vulnerability portfolio when this is appropriate, for example policing’s response to incidents like the Everyone’s Invited movement and the football abuse scandal.
News & events
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12th Mar 2025
International Women's Day- Inspiring the next generation of female leadersSaturday 8 March 2025 marks International Women’s Day, and the theme outlined by the United Nations is “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
The theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all, and a future where no woman is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation- particularly young women- as catalysts for lasting change. Because of this, we wanted to share with you more about our all-female Communications Team, and how Head of Communications, Claire Stanley is inspiring the next generation of female leaders.
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3rd Mar 2025
Police Staff Week of RecognitionThis week, we celebrate and recognise Police Staff Week. This article features some reflections from our director, Richard Fewkes and news that the communications team were shortlisted for Police Staff Team of the Year Award.
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27th Feb 2025
Progress, plans and partnership – catch-up with the Hydrant Team.The New year certainly began in a way that was unexpected for many who work across child protection. Now we’ve had a moment to take a breath and process an eventful few weeks, here’s an update on what the team has been busy progressing behind the scenes.
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12th Mar 2025
International Women's Day- Inspiring the next generation of female leadersSaturday 8 March 2025 marks International Women’s Day, and the theme outlined by the United Nations is “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
The theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all, and a future where no woman is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation- particularly young women- as catalysts for lasting change. Because of this, we wanted to share with you more about our all-female Communications Team, and how Head of Communications, Claire Stanley is inspiring the next generation of female leaders.
-
3rd Mar 2025
Police Staff Week of RecognitionThis week, we celebrate and recognise Police Staff Week. This article features some reflections from our director, Richard Fewkes and news that the communications team were shortlisted for Police Staff Team of the Year Award.
-
27th Feb 2025
Progress, plans and partnership – catch-up with the Hydrant Team.The New year certainly began in a way that was unexpected for many who work across child protection. Now we’ve had a moment to take a breath and process an eventful few weeks, here’s an update on what the team has been busy progressing behind the scenes.
