A REVIEW has been ordered into how Surrey Police handles historic child sex abuses investigations.
Surrey Police Chief Constable Lynne Owens has asked the College of Policing to conduct a peer review focusing on care provided for victims and witnesses.
Frances Andrade and Jimmy Savile are among "several recent cases" which have highlighted the need to ensure victims are supported.
Mrs Andrade was found dead at her Guildford home less than a week after giving evidence against her former music teacher and his then wife at Manchester Crown Court.
Michael Brewer, 68, and Hilary Brewer, 67, were convicted of abusing the mother of four when she was a pupil at Chetham's School of music in the 1970s.
Following Mrs Andrade's suspected suicide, Surrey Police was criticised by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for 'failing' to offer Mrs Andrade counselling during the trial.
An internal review into Mrs Andrade's case is still on-going, but Surrey Police said it offered Mrs Andrade, and other sex abuse victims, access to support and that Mrs Andrade had been referred to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in Guildford.
"It is widely recognised that any support received can be disclosed in court and victims are made aware of this," a spokeswoman said. "However this does not prohibit anyone from receiving counselling and it is not the practice of Surrey Police to refuse anyone access to counselling services."
Surrey Police also faced criticism over its Jimmy Savile investigations, involving allegations that the broadcaster sexually assaulted girls at the former Duncroft Approved School in Staines and a girl at Stoke Manderville Hospital.
It is not known how long it will take for the College of Policing to make recommendations to Surrey Police.
The request forms part of a wider project to look at victim care.
Chief Constable Lynne Owens said: "While we have had notable successes in historic child abuse cases which have resulted in significant custodial sentences, there have been several recent cases which have highlighted an on-going need to ensure we are taking the right approach and victims feel confident and supported.
"This is a priority area for us and I want to ensure we take every opportunity for further learning and improvement."
